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On this page12 sections
- Key takeaways
- Who gets donor milk, and who it is for
- HMBANA milk banks in the US
- How to get donor milk for your baby
- What donor milk costs
- Does insurance or Medicaid cover donor milk?
- How to donate breast milk
- Buying or sharing milk informally
- Quick answers by situation
- Sources note
- Questions people ask
- Sources
Key takeaways
- The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) lists 28 member milk banks in the US. Banks work regionally and nationally, so the nearest one doesn't have to be in your state [1].
- Pasteurized donor milk is mainly for babies born under 1,500 grams or with severe intestinal disorders. The AAP says it is safe when it comes through established milk banks [2].
- Published processing fees run about $4.50 to $4.65 an ounce, and NCSL puts the average at $3 to $5 [3][4][5]. Fees cover screening, testing, pasteurizing and shipping, not the milk itself.
- USDA says WIC can't issue banked human milk as a benefit [6]. Medicaid coverage depends on the state, and TRICARE covers it only for specific medical conditions [7][8].
- FDA does not recommend feeding a baby milk acquired directly from individuals or over the internet [9]. The AAP advises against it too [2].
Donor breast milk is human milk from screened donors that a nonprofit milk bank pools, pasteurizes, tests and ships. Most of it goes to hospital NICUs. If you want it for a baby at home, you will almost always need a prescription from your baby's provider, and you can order from any HMBANA milk bank that ships to you [1][10].
Who gets donor milk, and who it is for
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says donor milk use is growing mainly for babies born under 1,500 grams (about 3 pounds 5 ounces) and for those with severe intestinal disorders. It calls pasteurized donor milk safe when donors are screened and the milk is collected, stored, pasteurized and distributed through established milk banks [2].
Supply is limited, so banks ration it by medical need. Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank, for one, serves NICUs and hospitals first, then outpatients with medical needs, then "bridge" and discretionary orders. It says discretionary milk is currently unavailable because of hospital demand [10].
That means a healthy full-term baby, or a parent who is returning to work, is the last in line. TRICARE, for example, doesn't cover banked milk for healthy normal-birthweight babies or for convenience use [7].
If your goal is to build or protect your own supply, a lactation consultant is a better first call. See when to see a lactation consultant and the pumping schedule guide.
HMBANA milk banks in the US
HMBANA is a nonprofit that accredits milk banks and sets their safety standards. FDA points to HMBANA when it tells families to get donor milk from a source that screens its donors [9]. HMBANA's locator lists 28 US member banks, plus 3 in Canada, as of October 2026 [1].
HMBANA doesn't publish which states each bank serves. It says only that many banks work regionally and nationally and that your milk bank "doesn't have to be in your home state." The states-served column is blank for that reason. Call the bank to ask if it ships to you [1].
| Milk bank | City | State | States served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mothers' Milk Bank of Alabama | Birmingham | AL | Not published |
| UAMS Milk Bank | Little Rock | AR | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank | San Jose | CA | Not published |
| University of California Health Milk Bank | San Diego | CA | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank (Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation) | Arvada | CO | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank of Florida | Orlando | FL | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes | Elk Grove Village | IL | Not published |
| The Milk Bank | Indianapolis | IN | Not published |
| Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa | Coralville | IA | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank of Louisiana | New Orleans | LA | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank Northeast | Newton Upper Falls | MA | Not published |
| Bronson Mothers' Milk Bank | Kalamazoo | MI | Not published |
| Henry Ford Milk Bank-Jackson | Jackson | MI | Not published |
| Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies | Roseville | MN | Not published |
| Southwest Mothers' Milk Bank | Albuquerque | NM | Not published |
| The New York Milk Bank | Valhalla | NY | Not published |
| WakeMed Mothers' Milk Bank | Cary | NC | Not published |
| OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank | Columbus | OH | Not published |
| Oklahoma Mothers' Milk Bank | Oklahoma City | OK | Not published |
| Northwest Mothers Milk Bank | Tigard | OR | Not published |
| CHOP Mothers' Milk Bank | Philadelphia | PA | Not published |
| Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank | Pittsburgh | PA | Not published |
| Mother's Milk Bank of South Carolina | Charleston | SC | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank Southeast | Murfreesboro | TN | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin | Austin | TX | Not published |
| Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas | Fort Worth | TX | Not published |
| Mountain West Mothers' Milk Bank | South Salt Lake | UT | Not published |
| The King's Daughters Milk Bank | Norfolk | VA | Not published |
Source: HMBANA's Find a Milk Bank page, October 2026 [1]. Banks open, close and rename, so check the locator before you call.
Depots
Many donors drop milk at a "milk depot" instead of mailing it. HMBANA's page mentions depot drop-offs and free overnight shipping for approved donors, but it doesn't list depot locations. Use the HMBANA locator or your nearest bank's website to find one [1].
Depots are mostly for donors. If you need milk for a baby, order through the bank or through your baby's hospital.
How to get donor milk for your baby
- Ask your baby's provider. FDA says to talk with a healthcare provider before using donor milk [9]. If your baby is in a hospital NICU, ask the neonatal team, since the hospital orders from the milk bank.
- Get a prescription. Outpatient orders generally need one. Mid-Atlantic requires it for totals over 40 ounces, and insurance-covered orders need a provider order form [10].
- Contact a bank that ships to you. Use the table above and ask about current supply, order size and shipping.
- Ask about cost and coverage up front. Some banks run sliding-scale or charitable programs for families with documented need [3][4].
What donor milk costs
Banks charge a processing fee, not a price for the milk itself. Donors are never paid.
Fees we could confirm on bank pages:
| Milk bank | Published fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin | $4.65 per ounce | Hospitals pay it for inpatients. Outpatient families pay it too, though the bank says most get full or partial coverage from insurance or Medicaid [3]. |
| Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank | $4.50 per ounce | Outpatients with a documented medical need typically have it covered by insurance. Sliding-scale discounts may apply [4]. |
NCSL reports an average cost of $3 to $5 an ounce [5]. Fees change and many pages are undated, so confirm the current rate with the bank. Shipping is usually extra.
Austin's explanation of why it costs money: the fee "offsets the substantial costs of operating a modern, standards-compliant, non-profit milk bank." That covers donor recruitment, screening and blood tests, plus milk testing, pooling, pasteurizing, labeling and shipping [3].
Babies can drink 32 to 48 ounces a day, according to NCSL, so out-of-pocket costs add up fast without coverage [5].
Does insurance or Medicaid cover donor milk?
Sometimes, and almost always only when it is medically necessary.
Medicaid
A 2022 Journal of Perinatology review found Medicaid policies for donor milk in 13 states plus D.C. [8]. Rules differ on age limits, prior authorization and whether coverage is inpatient or outpatient. Here is what that review reports:
| State | Year | Setting | Age limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1998 | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Connecticut | 2019 | Not addressed | Set by state |
| District of Columbia | 2017 | Inpatient and outpatient | 12 months |
| Illinois | 2020 | Outpatient | 12 months |
| Kansas | 2015 | Inpatient | 3 months |
| Louisiana | 2020 | Inpatient | 12 months |
| Missouri | 2014 | Inpatient | 3 months |
| New Jersey | 2019 | Not addressed | 6 months |
| New York | 2017 | Inpatient | Not addressed |
| Ohio | 2018 | Outpatient | Not addressed |
| Oregon | 2019 | Outpatient | 6 months |
| Pennsylvania | 2017 | Outpatient | Not addressed |
| Texas | 2003 | Inpatient and outpatient | 6 months inpatient, 11 months outpatient |
| Utah | 2018 | Outpatient | 11 months |
Source: Rose et al., Journal of Perinatology, 2022 [8].
This is a 2022 snapshot, and state rules change. NCSL reported at least 17 states and D.C. with Medicaid coverage laws by September 2022 and named Indiana as the newest, enacted in August 2022 [5]. We couldn't verify a current, complete list, so treat every state not in the table as unverified. Check your state Medicaid agency's rules, or ask your baby's hospital or the milk bank, which handle billing questions every day. See the Medicaid pregnancy and postpartum coverage guide for how your state's program works.
TRICARE
TRICARE covers banked donor milk from HMBANA-accredited banks when an infant has a qualifying condition, such as birth weight under 1,500 grams, congenital heart disease, failure to thrive or documented formula intolerance. Prescriptions last 30 days and coverage is capped at 35 ounces per infant per day [7].
Private insurance
Private plans vary. Ask your insurer whether donor milk is covered, what diagnosis or prior authorization it requires, and whether the bank is in network. The milk bank can often tell you which plans have paid before.
WIC
USDA says banked human milk is not a WIC-eligible food, so WIC can't issue it as a benefit or use federal funds to buy it. WIC staff can still tell you about milk banks and refer you to one [6].
How to donate breast milk
Donating to an HMBANA bank is free, and donors are never paid [11]. Screening varies slightly by bank, but the pattern is the same:
- Contact a bank or depot. Most start with an online form or phone screen.
- Health and lifestyle history. Donors give detailed oral and written medical and lifestyle histories [11].
- Provider confirmation. The bank gets written confirmation of your health from your doctor [11].
- Blood tests. Donors are tested for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis [11]. Results can take a few days.
- Approval, then drop-off or shipping. After approval, you drop milk at a depot or ship it, often at no cost to you [1].
The bank then pasteurizes the milk with the Holder method and sends a sample from each batch to an independent lab [11]. Eligibility details such as medications, smoking and caffeine differ by bank, so check the specific bank's rules [12].
If you pump, read the pumping schedule guide first and make sure your own baby's needs come first. A breastfeeding support group is also a good place to ask other parents about donating.
Buying or sharing milk informally
Informal sharing means getting milk directly from another parent, through a Facebook group, or buying it online. It's common, and the guidance against it is plain.
- FDA: "FDA does not recommend feeding your baby breast milk acquired directly from individuals or through the Internet." It says those donors are unlikely to have been adequately screened for infectious disease, and the milk may not have been collected, handled or stored safely [9].
- AAP: The AAP advises against internet-based or informal human milk sharing, citing risk of bacterial or viral contamination and exposure to medications, drugs, herbs or other substances [2].
Neither group is saying that milk sharing comes from bad intentions. The problem is that nobody can confirm what's in the bottle. If you're short on milk and can't get bank milk, ask your baby's provider about your options, including formula.
Quick answers by situation
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Baby in the NICU | Ask the neonatal team. The hospital orders from the milk bank [10]. |
| Baby home from hospital, prescription needed | Ask your baby's provider, then contact a bank that ships to you |
| Low supply, healthy baby | Lactation consultant first |
| Want to donate | An HMBANA bank or depot [1] |
| On WIC | WIC can refer you but can't issue donor milk [6] |
| Military family | TRICARE coverage rules [7] |
Sources note
Fees, banks and state policies change. Everything above comes from the sources listed, most checked on October 16, 2026. Where a bank page had no date, we say so. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your baby's provider about feeding decisions.
Questions people ask
Can I get donor breast milk without a prescription?
Usually not. Milk banks prioritize hospitals and medically fragile babies, and outpatient families generally need a prescription from their baby's provider. Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank, for example, requires one for quantities over 40 ounces total and puts NICUs first, then outpatients with medical needs [10].
How much does donor breast milk cost?
Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin lists $4.65 an ounce and Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank lists $4.50 an ounce [3][10]. NCSL reports an average of $3 to $5 an ounce [5]. The fee covers screening, testing, pasteurizing and shipping. Donors are never paid.
Does insurance or Medicaid pay for donor milk?
Sometimes. A 2022 review found 14 jurisdictions with Medicaid policies, mostly requiring medical necessity [8]. TRICARE covers HMBANA milk for babies with qualifying conditions [7]. Private plans vary, so ask your insurer and your baby's provider.
Does WIC provide donor breast milk?
No. USDA says banked human milk is not a WIC-eligible food and can't be issued as a program benefit. WIC staff can tell you about milk banks and refer you [6].
Is it safe to buy or get breast milk from another mom online?
FDA does not recommend feeding a baby breast milk acquired directly from individuals or through the internet, because those donors are unlikely to have been adequately screened [9]. The AAP also advises against internet-based or informal milk sharing [2]. If you want donor milk, ask your baby's provider about a milk bank.
Sources
Numbers in brackets in the guide link to these sources.
- 1.Find a Milk BankHuman Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), 2026
- 2.Donor Human Milk for the High-Risk Infant: Preparation, Safety, and Usage Options in the United States (Pediatrics 2017;139(1):e20163440)American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017
- 3.Donor Human Milk Processing FeeMothers' Milk Bank at Austin
- 4.Mothers' Milk Bank clinical page: processing feesMid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank
- 5.Donor Human Milk: More Valuable Than GoldNational Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 2022
- 6.Banked Human BreastmilkUSDA Food and Nutrition Service (WIC), 2025
- 7.Banked Donor Breast MilkTRICARE, U.S. Department of Defense
- 8.US state policies for Medicaid coverage of donor human milk (Journal of Perinatology)Rose AT, Miller ER, Butler M, et al., via PubMed Central, 2022
- 9.Use of Donor Human MilkU.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026
- 10.Clinical resources for providersMid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank
- 11.Donor Milk Safety and ScreeningMothers' Milk Bank Northeast
- 12.How to become a milk donorMothers' Milk Bank (Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation)
