This rule strengthens and simplifies current bidding requirements for using a single-supplier competitive system to provide a rebate for infant formulas.
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.
The WIC program provides a combination of direct nutritional supplementation, nutrition education and counseling, and increased access to health care and social service providers for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women; infants; and children up to the age of five years. WIC seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low birthweight, short gestation, and anemia through intervention during the prenatal period. Infants and children who are at nutritional or health risk receive food supplements, nutrition education, and access to health care services to maintain and improve their health and development.
GAO Report to Congressional Committees on Food Assistance: Financial Information on WIC Nutrition Services and Administrative Costs
WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and access to health care to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five. Since its inception in the early 1970’s, the program has received fairly widespread support and it has grown in size to serve 7.4 million participants in FY 1998 at an annual cost of around $4 billion.
This interim rule amends regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The rule adds three legislative requirements that affect the application and certification process for the WIC program.
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.