This rule announces that no adverse comments were received in response to the direct final rule which amends the provisions of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) regulations to permit quarterly reporting of local agency expenditures.
This final rule amends regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow state agencies the option to defer the collection of blood test data for up to 90 days after the date of certification, so long as the applicant is determined to have at least one qualifying nutrition risk factor at the time of certification.
This final rule incorporates into the WIC program regulations numerous non-discretionary funding provisions mandated in the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998.
This direct final rule amends the regulations for WIC to give state agencies greater flexibility in the way they collect expenditure data from local agencies.
This final rule, published Oct. 21, 1999 in the Federal Register, amends both the food and the nutrition services and administration (NSA) funding formulas to improve the effectiveness of WIC funds distribution now that WIC is in a relatively stable funding environment.
The WIC and Head Start programs share common goals. Both programs strive to promote positive health and nutrition status for young families. Both programs provide young children and families with nutritious foods, health and nutrition education, and assistance in accessing on-going preventive health care. In many communities, WIC and Head Start serve the same families. By working together, programs have an opportunity to coordinate these services and maximize use of scarce resources (e.g., funding, staff, space). Working together can mean minimizing duplicative efforts on the part of families and staff; more opportunities for WIC and Head Start to benefit from each program’s strengths, expertise and best practices; and ultimately, more ways to make a positive impact on good health and nutrition for children and families.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which administers the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), asked Mathematica Policy Research to examine more closely Medicaid's role in adjunct eligible for WIC and do not have to show further proof of income to qualify.
The proposed rule entitled Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Food Delivery Systems was published in the Federal Register (64 FR 32308-32343) on June 16, 1999. This action extends the public comment period to Oct. 14, 1999.
The Department announces adjusted income eligibility guidelines to be used by state agencies in determining the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the WIC program. These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC regulations.
This proposed rule would strengthen the requirements for operation of vendor management systems by establishing mandatory selection criteria; limitation of vendors; training requirements; criteria to be used to identify high- risk vendors; and monitoring requirements, including compliance buys. In addition, the rule would strengthen food instrument accountability and sanctions for participants who violate program regulations. It would also streamline the vendor appeals process.