WIC: Its in the bag

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WIC Its in the bag!
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What is WIC?

• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
  Women, Infants, and Children
• WIC teaches good nutrition and provides healthy
  foods for families

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Who qualifies for WIC?

• Clients must meet all 4 eligibility criteria
• Household income guidelines
• Be a pregnant or postpartum (6 months-1 year
  after delivery) woman, or infant/child under age
  5
• Have a medical or nutritional risk
• Live in an area served by WIC

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What services does WIC offer?

• Nutrition education health screening
• Breastfeeding support
• Referrals to other services (immunizations, food
  banks, etc.)
• Vouchers for healthy foods

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Oregon WIC facts

• Over 72 of WIC families are employed
• WIC serves 40 of all infants in the state
• WIC helps prevent lifelong health problems
• WIC brought over 58 million into Oregon
  communities in 2006

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How to read a voucher
Date range when you can accept the voucher
Stamp vendor ID here
WIC client name / ID
Write amount here
Shopper signs here
Formula Description
Quantity
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Treat vouchers as a prescription

• Read what is listed on the voucher
• No substitutions or rainchecks

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Sell exactly whats prescribed

• Verify the of cans, can size, brand, and type
  of formula

Can size
of cans
Type
Brand

• No substitutions or rainchecks

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Pharmacy-specific rules

• Pharmacies must obtain formula or medical foods
  within 72 hours of a request
• Contact the WIC clinic with any concerns about
  filling the voucher

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Formula medical foods only

• Do not accept vouchers for other WIC foods such
  as milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, etc.
• Pharmacies are not required to stock WIC
  authorized foods
• Food vouchers redeemed at pharmacies will not be
  paid

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At the checkstand

• Make sure WIC items are separate from non-WIC
  items
• Handle each voucher as a separate transaction

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Ask for the WIC ID card

• Do not proceed without it
• Hold onto it until the end of the transaction
• There is no substitute (i.e. drivers license,
  state ID, etc) for the WIC ID card
• Never ask for other ID in addition to the WIC ID
  card

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The WIC ID card

• A valid WIC ID card has at least 1 and no more
  than 2 signatures
• Do not proceed if the card is invalid refer the
  shopper to the WIC clinic
• 2nd shopper may sign the card at the checkstand

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Check the dates

• Do not accept before midnight on the First Day to
  Use
• Do not accept after midnight on the Last Day to
  Use
• Vouchers accepted outside of the date range will
  NOT be paid

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Names ID s may not match

• It is OK to proceed if the name printed on the
  top of the voucher is not on the WIC ID card
• It is OK to proceed if the names of the shoppers
  do not match the name on the voucher or on the
  top of the WIC ID card

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Ring up the formula or medical foods

• Verify the shoppers items with the items listed
  on the voucher
• Shoppers are not required to buy everything on
  the voucher
• No substitutions

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Save the WIC Program money

• Store discount cards, coupons and store specials
  are OK

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Write the total

• Write the total purchase price on the voucher
  before the shopper signs
• Vouchers deposited without the total in the pay
  exactly box will NOT be paid

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If you make a mistake . . .

• Draw a single line through the pay exactly
  amount
• Write the correct total in the corrected amount
  box
• You and the WIC shopper must initial the change

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Get the shoppers signature

• Shopper must sign after you write in the total
• If the voucher is already signed, ask the shopper
  to sign again while in your presence

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Signatures must match

• Make sure the signature on the voucher matches a
  signature on the WIC ID card
• If the signatures dont match, do not proceed
  with the transaction and refer the shopper to the
  WIC clinic

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Youre done!

• Give the WIC ID card and receipt to the shopper

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Before depositing
9999

• Stamp your stores 4-digit vendor ID number in
  the box
• Do not handwrite the number

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Helpful tools for pharmacies

• Use both tools together for a successful WIC
  transaction

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Follow the WIC Program rules!

• Dont accept altered vouchers
• Dont sell medical foods/formulas not listed on
  the voucher
• Never charge WIC for items not purchased
• You cannot accept vouchers in exchange for other
  items
• Do not issue cash refunds for WIC purchases
• No rainchecks

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Handling WIC returns

• Exchanges for the exact same product are OK
• No cash refunds ever
• If the shopper wants a different formula, refer
  them to the WIC clinic

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Treat WIC shoppers with courtesy respect

• Contact WIC via phone or complaint card with any
  concerns

[phone]
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Shopping with WIC should be a good experience!
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If you need this information in an alternate
format, please call [phone]. WIC is an
equal opportunity program and employer.
57-1024-ENGL (09/2007)