Understanding WIC

1
Understanding WIC

• Meghan Garrett, RD
• VDH

2
Overview

• What is WIC?
• Program eligibility
• Contract formula
• Ready to Feed policy
• WIC 395

3
WIC

• Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants
  and Children
• USDA funded program
• Nutrition education

4
WIC

• Provides foods that contain specific nutrients
  that are often lacking in the diets of women and
  children
• Iron
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• Folic acid
• Vitamin C
• Protein

5
Eligibility

• Pregnant Women women with one or more embryos or
  fetuses in utero.
• Breastfeeding women women up to one year
  postpartum who are partially fully breastfeeding
  an infant.
• Postpartum women women up to six months after
  termination of pregnancy, including stillbirth,
  miscarriage, and therapeutic abortion.
• Infants persons under one year of age
• Children persons who have had their first
  birthday but have not yet attained their fifth
  birthday.

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Eligibility

• Applicants must present proof of residency at all
  certification visits.
• Medicaid, TANF, Food Stamps, and FAMIS or FAMIS
  MOMS.
• Financial eligibility up to 185 of the Federal
  Poverty Level for economic unit. The fetus is
  counted as 1 person.

7
Infant Formula Contract

• Federal regulations require a contract for an
  infant formula rebate
• Formula specifications are provided by the State
  office
• Formula companies are invited to bid

8
Infant Formula Contract

• Awarded based on lowest net cost
• Rebate for ONE brand of standard formula
• Allowing other standard products results in a
  significant loss of funds

9
Formula Cost

• Nestle net cost 0.067
• Ross net cost 0.83
• Annual net impact 10,530,420
• 41,000 participants currently served with those
  dollars

10
Ready to Feed Formula

• Per WIC policy FDS 03.1, Ready to Feed formula
  will only be provided for one of the following
  reasons
• Unsanitary or restricted water supply
• Fluoride levels gt 2 ppm in drinking water
• Parent/ legal guardian with mental disabilities
  or vision restrictions

11
Ready to Feed Formula

• Strict enforcement of policy
• Local agency staff must obtain approval to issue
  RTF from the State WIC Office

12
Special Formula Request Form(WIC 395)

• Required for all non-contract formulas listed on
  the formulary
• A new form is needed each time a formula is
  changed
• Federal regulation states that the form must be
  filled out completely, including the signature of
  a licensed healthcare professional authorized to
  write medical prescriptions

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Formula Allotment(Non- Medicaid Participant)

• The maximum amount of formula allowed per month
  is
• 403 fl oz concentrate
• 128 oz powdered
• 806 oz ready-to-feed
• Children and women with special needs can receive
  an additional
• 52 fl oz concentrate
• 16 oz powdered
• 104 fl oz ready-to-feed

15
Formula Allotment (Medicaid Participant)

• Effective October 1, 2006 No maximum amount of
  formula for WIC participants who receive Medicaid
• WIC ready-to-feed guidelines will apply to
  Medicaid participants

16
Required Items

• Current Medicaid number must be entered into
  WICNET system
• Completed Request for Special Formula form (WIC
  395) indicating amount of formula/ medical food
  required