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Helping Washington Families Access Infant Formula Amid Supply Shortage

Date: 08/29/22

TACOMA, Wash. (Aug. 29, 2022) – Coordinated Care announced today it has donated critically needed infant formula to healthcare providers and nonprofit organizations across the state to distribute to underserved communities and help alleviate ongoing supply shortages. To date, 90 cannisters of formula have been delivered to pediatric clinics and nonprofit organizations in Moses Lake, Puyallup, Seattle, Tacoma and Yakima providing approximately 1,800 meals with more than 40 additional cans scheduled to be delivered.

Around the country, supply chain issues have affected the availability of infant formula for children ages 0-12 months, and while efforts have been made by the federal government to increase availability, many parents across Washington continue to struggle to find formula – particularly those in rural and underserved areas. Infant formula is critical to the health and development of newborns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, leaving the overwhelming majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

"At Coordinated Care, we understand how critical infant formula is to a newborn’s health and development, as it has the right balance of nutrients needed for growth," said Beth Johnson, President & CEO at Coordinated Care. "That's why the increased cost and scarce availability of infant formula is distressing for families, especially those living in rural and underserved regions of Washington."

Healthcare providers and pediatric organizations that have received or will receive cannisters of formula from Coordinated Care are located in Parkland, Puyallup, Moses Lake, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Yakima. The formula is available to all families at no cost. Families can contact their providers in those areas or visit their offices to ask about receiving formula.

If impacted by infant formula shortages, Coordinated Care is encouraging families to follow the following guidelines and to seek out community resources for additional support, as needed:

  • DO talk with your pediatrician and ask if they have supplies of formula. Your local WIC office may also be able to suggest places to look.
  • DO check smaller stores and local community pharmacies, which may not be out of supply when the bigger stores are.
  • DO try new formulas. Many babies can switch brands of formula, including generic store brands, unless your infant is on a specific extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based formula. Ask your pediatrician about recommended specialty formula alternatives available for your infant.
  • DO NOT make a homemade formula or use imported formulas. This is not safe for your infant, as there are specific nutritional needs for an infant. The FDA reviews and makes sure that all infant formula sold in U.S. stores meets very strict rules about their ingredients to ensure it supports healthy growth and development.
  • DO NOT switch to cow’s milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages (sometimes labeled as milk). This is true for babies 0 – 12 months of age.
  • DO NOT water down formulas or use toddler formulas for infants younger than 12 months old. This includes adding more water when mixing powdered formula or adding extra water to ready-to-serve, non-concentrated liquid formula. Both practices affect the nutrition your infant is getting.
  • DO NOT purchase expired or damaged cans. Check expiration dates.

For families impacted by infant formula shortages, Coordinated Care members can contact the Community Connections Help Line for supply assistance at 866-775-2192 from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

About Coordinated Care

Coordinated Care provides free and low-cost health insurance coverage to more than 280,000 Medicaid, foster care and marketplace members across Washington state, with more than 30,000 providers in-network. Coordinated Care is committed to improving the health of the community one person at a time. They treat the whole person by breaking down barriers to accessing care, walking members through their benefits, and connecting them to the care they need. To learn more, visit http://www.CoordinatedCareHealth.com.

Media Contact:
Leanne Sangster
MediaInquiries@CoordinatedCareHealth.com

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