Michigan Senator Advances Bills to Regulate Human Milk Banks, Expand Access
Sen. Erika Geiss proposes first-ever regulations for milk banks in Michigan while expanding Medicaid coverage for prescribed donor breast milk to vulnerable infants.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — State Sen. Erika Geiss presented legislation Wednesday to establish comprehensive regulations for human milk banks in Michigan and expand Medicaid coverage for prescribed donor breast milk.
The Democrat from Taylor explained to the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee that her three-bill package stems from over a decade of work that began during her time in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Protecting Vulnerable Infants
“The infants who rely on donor human milk are some of our most vulnerable residents,” Geiss said during the committee hearing. “Some of these residents are infants in NICU – neonatal intensive care unit – who may have premature birth-related issues, such as immature digestive systems, an immature gut barrier, immune vulnerability, necrotizing enterocolitis, the inability to breastfeed directly, or moms whose milk was yet to come in, just to name a few.”
Milk banks collect and store pasteurized breast milk donated by nursing mothers to help families whose infants cannot access their mother’s own milk. Geiss noted that mothers face various challenges that may prevent them from supplying breast milk to their babies.
Three-Bill Legislative Package
Senate Bills 724, 725, and 726 would create operational standards for hospital and human milk banks operating in Michigan. The legislation would also allow Medicaid reimbursement for families whose infants are prescribed breast milk for children up to two years of age.
The bills include provisions establishing legal penalties for hospitals and milk banks that knowingly distribute adulterated or raw human milk to families. Current Michigan law does not specifically regulate human milk banking operations.
Addressing Racial Disparities
Isha Johnson, program director for the Black Mothers Breast Feeding Association, voiced support for Geiss’s legislation during the committee hearing. Johnson emphasized that access to donor milk serves as a critical resource in her organization’s efforts to reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding resources for women.
The bills now await further committee consideration before potential floor votes in the Michigan Senate. Geiss has championed maternal and infant health initiatives throughout her legislative career in both chambers of the state legislature.
Michigan currently has limited regulation of milk banking operations compared to other states that have established comprehensive oversight frameworks for donor milk distribution and safety protocols.
