New Federal Regulations
On December 29, 2000, USDA-FNS published 7 CFR Part 246, the final rule regulating the governing of the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). A primary goal of this update was to focus on the vendor management requirements for the WIC program. In reviewing this final rule, BCA has found that concerns addressed in BCA comments submitted to USDA-FNS in response to the draft regulatory proposal in June of 1999, were satisfactorily addressed.
Previously, BCA worked with the Massachusetts WIC Program to devise a new approach to WIC retailer management. We were especially pleased to learn that the resulting system, which won the 1999 USDA-FNS Administrator's Citation, is fully compliant with the new regulations. The citation reads as follows: "For achieving optimal effectiveness and innovation in WIC Food Cost Containment through implementation of the Massachusetts Maximum Redemption Price System."
An integral part of the Maximum Redemption Price System is the SURPAS program, an expert computer system developed by BCA that aids in the development of vendor peer groups and in the calculation of Not-to-Exceed amounts. The SURPAS system, which is now in the public domain, enables efficient compliance with the new regulatory standard of controlling WIC retailer prices at application and throughout the authorization period.
Below can be found BCA's previous comments on the draft regulations and a description of the Massachusetts model, "Managed Authorization."
Addendums to USDA Proposed Rule 7 CFR Part 246
Download BCA Comments on
Proposed Rule View BCA Comments On-Line
Download Attachments to BCA
Comments
View
Attachments On-Line
Download Massachusetts WIC MRP
Document View MA WIC MRP Retail Management System On-Line
To view the final regulations, please proceed to the USDA-FNS website or click on http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns.