Vendor Training

[learn_more caption=”WIC ANNUAL TRAINING 2018″ state=”open”]

VENDORS are responsible to train staff on the following information:

PURPOSE:  Annual training is provided to prevent program errors, noncompliance, improve program service, and reduce appeals.

CONTENT:

1.   Purpose of the Program:  The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants, and Children (WIC) safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to the age of five by providing nutritious foods for those who are at nutritional risk.  WIC is a federally funded program which provides Hawaii residents with nourishing supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and health and social service referrals.  The participants of WIC are either pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum women, and infants and children under age five who meet income guidelines and have a medical or nutritional risk.

2.  Supplemental foods authorized by the State Agency:

•  WIC Allowed Foods

3.  Minimum Stocking Requirements

NOTE:  Substitutions of WIC required food items are not allowed and cannot be authorized by WIC.   Any substitution for items or sizes listed on a WIC check are a serious violation.

4.  Authorized Infant Formula Sources List

5.  Procedures for transacting and redeeming food instruments

6.  Procedures for correcting WIC check errors

7.  Vendor Sanction System

8.  Vendor complaint against WIC Participant process

9.  Claims procedures

Claims Against Vendors:  When the State agency determines the vendor has committed a vendor violation that affects the payment to the vendor, the State agency will delay payment or establish a claim.  The State agency may delay payment or establish a claim in the amount of the full purchase price of each food instrument or cash-value voucher that contained the vendor overcharge or other error.  The State agency will provide the vendor with an opportunity to justify or correct a vendor overcharge or other error.  The vendor must pay any claim assessed by the State agency. In collecting a claim, the State agency may offset the claim against current and subsequent amounts to be paid to the vendor.  In addition to denying payment or assessing a claim, the State agency may sanction the vendor for vendor overcharges or other errors in accordance with the State agency’s sanction schedule.

Information regarding Second Level Review/APPEALED CHECKS can be found here.

•  WIC Check Appeal Form

10.  Changes to program requirements since last training

Incentive Items:  Section 246.12(h)(3)(iii) of the Federal WIC Regulations requires WIC authorized vendors to offer WIC Program participants, parents or caretakers of infant and child participants, and proxies the same courtesies that are offered to non-WIC customers.

WIC authorized vendors may not treat WIC customers differently from non-WIC customers by excluding them from in-store promotions – this includes disallowing the use of coupons or other vendor discounts in WIC transactions that are allowed in non-WIC transactions. Similarly, WIC-authorized vendors may not treat WIC customers differently by offering them incentive items, vendor discounts, coupons or other promotions that are not offered to non-WIC customers.

For more information regarding incentive items, please contact WIC Vendor Management Unit at (808)586-4776 or [email protected].

HAWAII WIC ANNUAL TRAINING NEWSLETTER 2018

[/learn_more] [learn_more caption=”Training Videos”] The following are offered to WIC vendors for training:

Vendor Portal Training 1 (Price Survey) – Emphasis on Independent Store  – 9/19/2016
Vendor Portal Training 2 (Price Survey) – Emphasis on Chain Stores  – 9/19/2016
Store Processes & Cashier Training Video
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Contact Information

Vendor Management Unit
WIC Services Branch
Leiopapa A Kamehameha State Office Tower
235 S. Beretania Street, Suite 701
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
808) 586-8392 or Toll Free 1-888-820-6425
Fax (808) 586-8189