37.75.302    INFANT MEAL REIMBURSEMENT

(1) All meal components required by the USDA infant meal pattern contained in 7 CFR 226.20 must be supplied by the provider or center, with the exception of breast milk, for a meal to be eligible for reimbursement.

(2) Except as provided in (6), meals containing breast milk served to infants may be claimed for reimbursement. Other required or optional meal components must be supplied by the provider or center. If the parent supplies any meal component other than breast milk, the meal may not be claimed for reimbursement.

(3) Meals containing only breast milk do not qualify for reimbursement if feeding is performed naturally by the mother.

(4) Except as provided in (6), infant formula must be supplied by the provider or center for the meal to be eligible for reimbursement. If parents provide infant formula, meals cannot be claimed.

(5) Except as provided in (6), a provider or center must supply an infant with iron-fortified formula or soy-based formula if recommended by the infant's parent or the infant's health care provider.

(6) If an infant requires a specialty formula such as Nutramigen, Pregestimil, Alimentum, and Lofenalac that is much more expensive or difficult to obtain than a regular infant formula, the provider or center may request that the parent pay the difference between a regular priced formula and the much higher priced formula. If the parents supply the specific formula, in lieu of receipt of cash, the provider or center may credit the parents for the value of the formula the provider or the center would have supplied. A written agreement signed by both the provider or center and the parents indicating how specialty formulas are to be provided must be kept and must be available for review by CACFP staff and auditors.

(7) Whole milk is not allowed as a meal component for an infant who is 12 months or less of age.

History: 52-2-704, MCA; IMP, 52-2-702, 52-2-704, MCA; NEW, 2003 MAR p. 981, Eff. 5/9/03; AMD, 2006 MAR p. 331, Eff. 2/10/06.