Infant Formula

What you can find...

WIC infants who are not exclusively breastfed receive checks for formula.

The allowed amounts, formula names, and can sizes are printed on the WIC checks.

WIC provide three types of formula:

• Standard Formulas:  Designed to meet the basic nutritional needs of term infants who do not have special formula needs.  These formulas are not intended to provide a particular therapeutic benefit.  Most non-breastfed WIC infants receive this type of formula.

• Therapeutic Formulas:  Intended for use by infants who have food allergies, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, malabsorption syndromes, inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, and other serious medical conditions.   Therapeutic formulas require the Request for Medically Necessary WIC Approved Formulas form (PDF, 45.22 KB) or a written prescription.

• Child Nutritionals:  Child nutritionals are designed for nutrient dense feeding for children one year of age and older.  Child Nutritionals require the Request for Medically Necessary WIC Approved Formulas form (PDF, 45.22) or a written prescription.

Formula Resources (PDF)

• Product Information Guide (79.75 KB)
• Formula Comparison Tool (45.06 KB)
• Formula Product Reference Chart (606.78 KB)
• Request for Medically Necessary WIC Approved Formulas form (45.22 KB)
• Staff Tool: Approved/Not Approved Formulas (893.13 KB)

The Washington State WIC Approved Formula List (PDF, 38.49 KB) contains a complete list of WIC approved infant formulas.

Standard	Standard	Standard
Therapeutic	Therapeutic	Therapeutic
Therapeutic	Therapeutic	Therapeutic
Child Nutritional

Links to locate hard to find formulas and product information.

• Mead Johnson Products
• Ross Products

What if a client's formula needs cannot be met by WIC?

If a client is not eligible for the WIC Program or the WIC Program cannot meet the client's formula or enteral nutrition product needs, the client may seek assistance from the Health and Recovery Services Administration (HRSA, formerly MAA) if they are eligible.  The following information may help in the search for assistance.

• WIC Clinic Response to Formula Requests (flow chart) (PDF, 29.59 KB)
• Process to Request Formula from HRSA (PDF, 49.54 KB)
• WIC/MAA Medical Nutrition Information Form (PDF, 23.05 KB)

Additional HRSA contact information:

• Health professionals contact: Marlene Black, DSHS Health Recovery Services/MAA(360) 725-1577
• HRSA Clients:  Call the phone number on the reverse side of the Medical Information card (medical coupon):  800-562-3022
• HRSA Enteral Nutrition Billing Instructions (PDF, 438 KB)

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.

Documents posted in PDF version on the Department of Health Web site will be made available on request to users who are unable to download or view them. For persons with disabilities, PDF documents will be made available on request in other formats. To submit a request, contact WIC's Subsite Developer.  Download the free PDF viewer here.