|
The West Virginia WIC Program celebrates ongoing efforts in establishing an improved system to let WIC help West Virginia families have what they need to live a healthy life.
As part of a pilot project, which will use electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for WIC food purchases, nine counties served by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department WIC Program is testing the technology, methods and infrastructure for an online, integrated WIC EBT system. WIC EBT, more commonly referred to as eWIC, offers several improvements to the WIC Program that benefits WIC participants, retail vendors, cashiers, and WIC employees.
"Offering eWIC cards gives families needed access to benefits without the stigma of paper vouchers, and improves the shopping experience because they can purchase foods as needed," said Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department WIC Director June Rhodes. "EWIC issuance of benefits also streamlines the process in the WIC clinic."
Traditionally, WIC participants have purchased approved items, such as cereal and infant foods, using paper vouchers. Participants are issued several vouchers to purchase WIC-approved items in authorized stores. All items listed on a voucher must be purchased at one time or the benefits are lost. With the eWIC card, benefits are stored in an electronic household account, so each item may be purchased individually when the participant chooses without losing benefits.
"By integrating into retailers' automated systems, the eWIC card makes the purchase process identical to all other shoppers. WIC participants can swipe their eWIC cards along with other methods of payment which allows participants to shop confidentially, but also makes possible small - even one item - purchases, which they haven't been able to do under the traditional WIC system," said State eWIC Coordinator Terry Young.
The eWIC card not only provides expanded shopping flexibility for families, but offers accuracy, efficiency and quicker checkout for the retail environment. The integrated system automatically identifies WIC-authorized items and confirms purchases helping guarantee that retailers allow participants to purchase only WIC authorized foods and in the correct amounts, while removing the margin of cashier error during WIC transactions. Ultimately, this electronic approval of WIC items improves the check-out experience for cashiers, and electronic payment processing improves the reconciliation process for retailers.
The Mid-Ohio Valley counties were chosen for their capability to test multiple types of vendors from small locally owned retailers to large chain stores. "This is a tremendous achievement for West Virginia public health and the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. West Virginia is the first state in the Mid-Atlantic region to accomplish testing of eWIC. We are extremely grateful to our participants, local WIC staff, and vendors in Calhoun, Gilmer, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood Counties who participated," said State WIC Director Denise Ferris. "We are building the future of the WIC Program."
To date, approximately 5,100 WIC participants and 31 authorized retailers are participating in the pilot project, which began March 29.
WIC is a short term intervention program designed to influence lifetime nutrition and health behavior in high risk populations. The program serves 47,000 West Virginians.
Funded by the USDA, WIC offers nutrition education and services, breastfeeding promotion and education, nutritious foods, and access to maternal, prenatal and pediatric healthcare services. For more information about the WV WIC Program, contact the WIC Office by phone at 304-558-0030, or visit us on online at http://ons.wvdhhr.org Â
WIC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
|
