Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Bridging the Gap Helping clients complete their WIC experience Marlene Williams, MPH, RD Program Integrity Manager January 27, 2016

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans After the clients leave…… Today’s Topics Ready to feed or powdered formula or both? Helping clients order special formula Signatures on checks (initials and missing) Issuing the correct FIs String Cheese

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Ready to Feed, Powder, or Both?

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Ready to Feed, Powder, or Both? Checks are for ready to feed formula, but authorized rep has been purchasing powder. – 26 cans RTF=832oz – 26 cans Powder=2,340oz – Review checks with clients carefully

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Ready to Feed, Powder, or Both? Client had to return – 50 cans of formula – Last 3 months of formula checks Vendors requested $ Vendors paid $ Vendor lost $1, bank fees WIC has to pay bank fees

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Bridging the gap What are steps that can be taken to bridge this gap?

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Helping clients order special formula Chapter 4, Section H – Participants must be informed on how to obtain – WIC staff aid in finding a vendor – 1 st time it may be necessary for staff to order

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Helping clients order special formula When assisting participant: – Order 1 st month – Open lines of communication between participant and vendor For following months If order is no longer needed – Dates of benefits

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Bridging the gap What are steps that can be taken to bridge the gap?

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Signatures on Checks Acceptable SignaturesUnacceptable Signatures Paul J. EdwardsPJE P. James EdwardsPJE J. P. EdwardsJPE Paul EdwardsPE P. EdwardsPE “Normal Signature” – Initial only acceptable with first and middle name – Last names must be signed “Readable” – Not too small

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Signatures on Checks

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Signatures on Checks WIC Vendor Manual: – “The signature at the store must be at the store in front of the cashier at the end of the transaction.” If a vendor contacts a clinic to have client return to sign checks, please refer them to complaint hotline

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Issuing Food Instruments/Benefits “Treat your checks like cash. They can’t be replaced if lost or stolen”

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Issuing Food Instruments/Benefits Multiple incidents – Checks being issued to wrong families – Incorrect files being accessed and updated Checks being issued to wrong families

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Bridging the gap What are steps that can be taken to bridge the gap?

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans String Cheese Minimum Stock 8 pounds (16oz each) Store or house brand 3 varieties – Cheddar – Monterey Jack – One other Colby Mozzarella (includes string cheese) Blended cheese (blend of the types above)

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans String Cheese Store or house brand? Stores are required to declare store or house brand items for: – Refrigerated cow’s milk – Cheese – Eggs Stores must display signage on these items

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Declared Store/House Brand ~700 Vendors – ~515 chain stores 11 chains – ~150 independent – 5 commissaries Possibilities of declared store or house brand string cheese? – A lot PI Vendors Clients Clinics + Staff

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans String Cheese 16oz and Declared Store/House Brand

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Want to know more?

Health and Wellness for all Arizonans Thank you for all you do! Questions?