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Women, Infants and Children

WIC EBT STATUS REPORT (as of May 2009) 
Click here for a PDF of this chart

For more information on EBT, go to APD Document Library

Shaded projects are inactive.

Off-Line Smartcard Projects

WIC

State Agency

Unique Pilot Features

Card

Features

Prime Contractor

Scope of Pilot Project

Status of Implementation

Launch Date

City/County

Clinics

Retailers

Clients

Wyoming

Wyoming’s EBT system is operational statewide. WY began development in 1995 and is the first state to operate statewide, beginning January 2002. WY uses existing retailer equipment in-lane.

Initially smartcard with integrated circuit chip contained both WIC & SNAP benefits. SNAP was dropped in 2007 when SNAP went to on-line technology.

WY contract with Stored Value Systems (SVS) for processing, networking and banking ended in 2008. The host system is now operated by the State Agency.

Statewide

37

91

11,650

SNAP joined the Western States EBT Alliance to implement an on-line system. The State upgraded its WIC MIS in FY 2005. WY awarded a contract to Paul Jaeger & Assocs. to migrate NM EBT software for clinic & settlement processing. Implementation was completed in November 2008. WY is also participating in the Mountain Plains SAM consortium to develop a model WIC MIS.

Went Statewide with WIC EBT in 2002

Converted to new EBT system November 2008.

New Mexico

New Mexico’s EBT system is operational statewide. NM partnered with Texas on smartcard design & other areas of mutual benefit. NM is utilizing integrated software for grocer systems.

Hybrid Smartcard with integrated circuit chip & magstripe may eventually contain both WIC and SNAP benefits.

The host system is operated by the State agency.

Statewide

108

230

64,000

Implementation was completed December 2007.

New Mexico is coordinating with Texas on the development of an automated solution for capturing cash purchases of fruits and vegetables on the smartcard.

Pilot was launched July 2003.

Implemented Statewide December 2007.

Texas

 

 

 

Texas’ EBT system is operational statewide. TX partnered with New Mexico on smartcard design and other areas of mutual benefit. Developed in-house public domain stand-beside software for grocer system but is now relying on commercial providers to support smaller grocer systems with WIC EBT functionality. Has deployed integrated software for grocer system in pilot and statewide.

Smartcard with integrated circuit chip & magstripe may eventually allow access to both WIC and SNAP/TANF benefits.

The host system is operated by the State agency.

189 counties

615

2,240

982,000

Implementation was completed in April 2009.

The State is coordinating with New Mexico on development of an automated solution for capturing cash purchases of fruits and vegetables on the smartcard and working to acquire new cards.

Pilot was launched June 1, 2004.

Implemented Statewide April 2009.

PARTNERS

Card was designed to deliver WIC food benefits and to carry health services information in partnership with a variety of health programs. New England PARTNERS multi-state project included NH, ME, VT, MA, RI, and CT.

Hybrid card contained both magnetic stripe and integrated circuit chip on a smartcard.

Hitachi America, Ltd. (HAL)

Planned:

Phase 1:

NH only (Stafford County)

Phase 2:

All States except VT.

16

70

7,700

NEP decided to terminate the project prior to pilot implementation due to concerns about state resources, and changes in project affecting costs and timeline.

Project ended prior to implementing pilot. New activity ceased as of 1/06.

Ohio

Under the pilot, both WIC and SNAP (formerly FSP) participants used same smartcard to purchase benefits with point of sale smartcard readers in lane for retailers.

Smartcard with integrated circuit chip contained both WIC & SNAP benefits.

J P Morgan (contract ended June 2005)

Dayton

5

43

11,000

Due to the high cost of EBT, Ohio converted back to paper when their contract ended in June 2005.

Pilot was launched October 16, 2000

On-Line Magstripe Projects

WIC

State Agency

Unique Pilot Features

Card

Features

Prime Contractor

Scope of Pilot Project

Status of Implementation

Launch Date

City/County

Clinics

Retailers

Clients

Michigan

Michigan’s EBT system is operational statewide. MI began development in 1999 and is the first State agency to implement a WIC EBT system statewide using on-line technology.

Magnetic stripe card.

MI contracted with ACS in 2006 to deliver WIC, cash, and SNAP EBT services. Prior to ACS, JPMorgan provided support for WIC EBT.

Statewide

222

1,940

233,384

Implementation was completed March 2009. Michigan is working with several retail chain stores on the development of integrated retailer systems using a standard specification.

Pilot was launched July 5, 2005; new ACS system began pilot in March 2007.

Implemented Statewide March 2009.

Kentucky

Kentucky will continue the project begun in Washington to further test the use of on-line technology for WIC EBT. Project will include integrated retailer systems and evaluate the cost and impact on WIC EBT stakeholders.

Magnetic stripe card.

Kentucky is developing system in-house using their management information system contractor, CDP, as their EBT developer.

Warren and Barren Counties

2

25

1,600 families

Project began August 1, 2006. Kentucky is currently working with Kroger/IBM, Walmart, Houchens/DataCash on integrated software for grocer systems, including development of a standard specification document for use among WIC retailers. System demonstration completed December 2008.

Pilot is projected to begin in July 2009.

Nevada

Nevada is using the WIC EBT system originally used in Wyoming. The WIC Inter-tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) State agency does not participate in EBT at this time.

Smartcard with integrated circuit chip.

Stored Value Systems (SVS) is supporting current smartcard operations. JP Morgan is developing a new on-line system for NV and the ITCN.

Reno, Sparks in Washoe County, and part of Las Vegas

22 with ITO

127

42,787

NV smartcard system is operational in Reno/Sparks and in much of Las Vegas (Clark County). The EBT system with SVS will not support Nevada EBT beyond September 2009. NV will be converting to the JP Morgan on-line system.

Pilot was launched

June 2, 2000.

Will convert to new online EBT system by September 2009.

Chickasaw Nation, OK

Chickasaw Nation will implement an on-line WIC EBT system using a fee for service implementation approach. The recently implemented SPIRIT MIS model will be updated to support EBT functionality and the newly updated software will be made available to SPIRIT transfer State agencies.

Magnetic stripe card.

JP Morgan is the contractor. JPM will provide the system free of charge and operate the system on a cost per case month basis.

Pontotoc

7

27

3,600

Project began in the Summer of 2008. Chickasaw Nation met with Covansys and JPM in Kansas City in August 2008 to discuss whether certain functions will reside in the EBT system or MIS system. JPM is developing an interface to the Covansys system.

Will pilot 2 months (Oct-Nov 2009) and begin statewide implementation in August 2010.

Washington

 

Washington participated in FNS’ on-line demonstration project to test the feasibility of delivering WIC benefits using existing retailer equipment with magnetic stripe card. Magnetic stripe card. ISS (subcontractors Maximus & SVS) under contract to FNS. Pierce County (Tacoma) 1 3 300 families

Findings from the pilot were compiled in March 2006.  State agency completed feasibility study in September 2007 examining future options for EBT.

 

Pilot launched June 2005; ended November 2005.

 

Related Project(s)

National UPC Database

Legislation in 2004 required a national UPC database to be developed to support State agency operations. In December 2004, FNS held a one day session with State agency and industry stakeholders to examine a web-based database that would allow State agencies and food manufacturers to enter product information into the database. Feedback from the stakeholders was generally positive. A workgroup of State agencies, food retailers and food manufacturers was subsequently convened to assist in identifying and resolving critical issues associated with the database. The database system was developed in the fall of 2007 and is currently being pilot tested by a small number of State agencies.

Standards Committee

In May 2007, the EBT workgroup of the ASC X9, Inc., completed the portion of the X9.93 message specifications that pertains to on-line WIC EBT systems and file formats used by both on-line and off-line systems. The changes will reduce the need for retail vendors and processors to rewrite software when State contracts change EBT processors. Retail claim file processing will enable transactions from multiple WIC vendor locations to be submitted for payment in a single file format. ASC X9 approval is pending.

EBT Planning Grants

In FY 2007, FNS awarded an EBT planning grant to Virginia to conduct a feasibility study. In FY 2008, FNS awarded three additional EBT planning grants. These grants were awarded to Florida, Arkansas, and Wisconsin. Both Virginia and Arkansas also received funds to develop a data collection tool for EBT cost evaluation. West Virginia is planning to piggyback on Virginia’s initiative. Several other State agencies that have not received grants are pursuing EBT planning activities as well including: Oklahoma; Montana; Cherokee, OK; and Isleta, NM.

 

 


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