From: Bowsher,
Joan
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 11:34 AM
To: Fogelman, Chris
Subject: FW: A-08-08 WIC Futures Committee Request
Save it where you
want it.
Joan
Bowsher, Montana WIC Director
Family and Community
Health Bureau
Cogswell Building, PO Box 202951
Helena, MT
59620-2951
From: Shawn Hinz [mailto:shawnh@ycchd.org]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 10:44 AM
To: Bowsher, Joan
Cc: Gayle Espeseth
Subject: FW: A-08-08 WIC Futures Committee Request
Joan, here are the comments from Gayle. She will not be attending the meeting on Wednesday but Debbie and I will plan to attend.
Thanks, Shawn
From: Gayle Espeseth
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 9:55 AM
To: Shawn Hinz; Debbie Hedrick; Betty Lackman
Subject: A-08-08 WIC Futures Committee Request
Cogswell Building 1400 Broadway Helena MT 59620
MEMORANDUM
TO: Regional WIC Directors
FROM: Joan Bowsher, Montana WIC Director
DATE: March 17, 2008
NUMBER: A-08-07
SUBJECT: WIC Futures Study Group Request
The WIC Futures Study Group will be having their second meeting on Wednesday, March 19. In order to provide the group with as much information on WIC services as possible, we are requesting your input in two areas.
1) What are your five biggest "time takers" in WIC?
Transfer
process within
Quarterly time studies done for whole month, tracking whole days and then recording in computer.
Verifying address continually, signing and tracking WIC form and making sure address gets verified with the limited options, and copying it. Are we more limiting in what we can accept and making this more time consuming for us and frustrating for client. Why can’t OPA information be used, or information on paystubs, bank accounts as it appears other states have allowed these?
Signing and dating on WIC forms multiple times.
Charting (not a time-waster but very time consuming).
Farmers Market requirements without administrative funding.
2) What does Montana WIC require of local agencies which is not required by WIC Federal Regulations?
1) State: requiring to list all nutrition risk codes vs identifying and listing one nutrition risk code.
2) State: requiring monthly visits on all infants their first 3 months, and the bi-monthly visits on certain identified risks (anemia, growth concerns) vs. minimum of quarterly visits.
3) State: recently adding need for proof of pregnancy and what qualifies as proof of pregnancy vs. proof of pregnancy is optional to State, if State chooses to require this it can be just visual, or requested if there is suspected fraud. “Proof of pregnancy is not a mandatory condition of eligibility for the WIC Program” Clients are asked to bring a lot of information and staff are required to document a lot of information; if this potentially creates a barrier to service, as has been the philosophy in the past, and adds to administrative tasks and time for both client and staff, does the cost outweigh the benefit, especially as is not required by Federal Register.
4) CPA requirements (state vs. federal)
Due to the approaching date of the next meeting, we are requesting your response quickly. Please e-mail your response to these two questions to Lynn Van Aken (lvanaken@mt.gov) by Friday, March 14.
Thank you for your thoughtful input. We are working hard to make WIC a successful quality nutrition program for the future. If you have any questions please call me at 406-444-4747.
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