Telelactation startup SimpliFed is teaming up with Nature’s One to expand the availability of affordable baby formula.
Through the partnership, SimpliFed will provide families with access to organic infant formula via a single purchase or subscription package. The formula will be more affordable than what is in supermarkets, executives told Fierce Healthcare. The partnership is said to be the first of its kind among femtech companies.
Three out of four SimpliFed patients use a mix of breast milk, donor milk and infant formula.
“We are here to squash the ‘breastfeeding vs. formula’ debate once and for all: Breastfeeding is great, infant formula is great. End of discussion,” Andrea Ippolito, CEO and founder of SimpliFed, said in a press release. “This partnership gives families choice. In a year where choices have been taken away from women and families, it is time to give them that choice back.”
Any parent, even if they are not a SimpliFed member, will have the option to buy the formula through the partnership, Ippolito told Fierce Healthcare. The provider toured Nature’s One facilities several times and feels confident their testing and processes are up to par in light of recent disasters. The formula is also kosher. “We’ve done our homework so [families] don’t have to,” Ippolito said.
“Nature’s One takes great pride in the evidence-based approach from the ingredients, the facility, and the team that has spent years to ensure our infant formula is safe, nutritious, and accessible for families,” Jay Highman, founder and CEO of Nature’s One, said in a press release. “We think that organic infant formula should be priced ‘family-friendly’ so every family has access to the best formula for their child."
Most payers are required by law to cover breastfeeding support under the Affordable Care Act, the primary reason the company was founded. SimpliFed is currently offered to members of TRICARE and Aetna nationwide, as well as Medicaid members in several states.
Parents can receive on-demand, insurance-covered guidance from baby feeding experts at SimpliFed, as well as virtual support to navigate breast pump selection and insurance benefits.