MODERN WIC Act of 2023

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to permit video or telephone certifications in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2023 MODERN WIC Act of 2023 2. Redefining presence at certification (a) In general Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3) (1) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C); (2) by inserting the following after subparagraph (A): (B) Presence for certain determinations and evaluations (i) In general Each individual seeking certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation for participation in the program authorized under this section shall be provided an appointment that is, at the option of the individual— (I) in-person, by telephone, or through video technology that permits 2-way, real time interactive communications, as determined by the Secretary; or (II) through other formats that permit 2-way, real time interactive communications, as determined by the Secretary. (ii) ADA compliance Any format made available for an appointment under clause (i) shall be accessible to an individual in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. 29 U.S.C. 794 (iii) Nutritional risk evaluations for remote certification If an individual is certified for participation in the program under clause (i) through a format other than in-person, a State agency shall— (I) to the maximum extent practicable, collect anthropometric data necessary to evaluate the nutritional risk of that individual within 30 days of the appointment; and (II) collect such data not later than 90 days after the appointment. (iv) Interim eligibility for nutritional risk (I) In general A State agency may consider an applicant who meets the income eligibility standards to be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to participate in the program and may certify any such individual for participation immediately, without delaying certification until a nutritional risk evaluation is made. (II) Nutritional risk evaluation A nutritional risk evaluation of such individual shall be completed not later than 90 days after the individual is certified for participation pursuant to subclause (I). (III) Termination If a State agency does not collect data in accordance with clause (iii)(II) or the individual is subsequently determined to not meet nutritional risk criteria, the certification of that individual shall terminate on the date described in such clause (iii)(II) or the date of such determination, as applicable. ; and (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively. (b) Technical amendment Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3) 3. Remote benefit issuance (a) In general Section 17(f)(6)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(6)(B) (1) in the third sentence— (A) by striking vouchers by mail food instruments by mail, remote issuance, or other means (B) by striking The Secretary (iii) Disapproval of state plan The Secretary ; (2) in the second sentence— (A) by striking vouchers by mail in its plan food instruments by mail, remote issuance, or other means in the State plan (B) by striking The State (ii) State plan The State ; and (3) by striking (B) State agencies to obtain vouchers. (B) Delivery of food instruments (i) In general State agencies may provide for the delivery of food instruments, including electronic benefit transfer cards, to any participant through means that do not require the participant to travel to the local agency to obtain food instruments, such as through mailing or remote issuance. . (b) Regulations The Secretary shall revise section 246.12(r) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, by striking paragraph (4). 4. Annual investment in WIC technologies Section 17(h) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(h) (1) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) by striking clause (ii); and (B) by striking the subparagraph designation and all that follows through clause (ii) and (B) Allocation for nutrition services and administration Except as provided in ; and (2) in paragraph (10)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 2010 through 2015 2024 through 2029 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following: (ii) $60,000,000 shall be used to establish, develop, improve, replace, or administer technology platforms, including management information systems and systems that allow for secure communication of information between health care providers and program clinics in order to facilitate sharing information necessary for certification, establishing nutrition risk, or for the provision of health care services, that enhance program services, access to the program, or redemption of benefits, of which up to $5,000,000 may be used for Federal administrative cost; . 5. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report on the use of remote technologies under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 program (b) Content of report The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include a description of— (1) the use of remote technologies and other digital tools, including video, telephone, and online platforms— (A) to certify eligible individuals for program services; and (B) to provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support to program participants; (2) the impact of remote technologies, including video, telephone, and online platforms, on certifications, appointments, and participant satisfaction under the program; and (3) best practices to— (A) certify program participants for program services using remote technologies; (B) incorporate the use of digital tools into the program certification process; (C) integrate nutrition education and breastfeeding support services for program participants into remote technologies and platforms; and (D) securely manage program participant data.

Summary: More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2023 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2023 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, the bill allows an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. The bill also reauthorizes Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) WIC funding for infrastructure, management information systems, and special nutrition education through FY2029. Specified funds must be used to establish, develop, improve, replace, or administer technology platforms that allow for secure communication between health care providers and program clinics under the program. Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. Under current law, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The FNS has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were originally provided by laws that were enacted to address the COVID-19 pandemic.