Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › PARENT/CHILD HEALTH › Chapter 246-790 - Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) › Section 246-790-010 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The definitions in this section apply throughout this
				  chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) "Administrative appeal" means a
				proceeding required by statute or constitutional right and conducted under the
				rules of this chapter, which provides an opportunity to be heard by the
				department prior to the entry of an order under this chapter.
(2) "Applicant" means any vendor, or person
				representing a vendor, or vendors reapplying for authorization, requesting
				authorization to participate in the WIC program by submitting a completed
				application for authorization and all corresponding documentation.
(3) "Approved infant formula wholesaler"
				means a supplier or manufacturer listed in the document titled
				"
Washington WIC Approved Infant Formula Suppliers.
"
(4) "Authorized vendor" means a vendor who
				has met the vendor selection criteria as required by the United States
				Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the department, received training on WIC
				program requirements, and entered into a fully executed contract with the
				department.
(5) "Business
				integrity" means a store's uncompromising commitment and adherence to honesty,
				truthfulness, and accuracy in interactions with the department, customers,
				creditors, suppliers, associates, and the public at large.
(6) "Business and financial documentation"
				means all documents required to own and operate a business as a retailer which
				may include, but not be limited to, banking and financial records; property
				sales, leases and rental agreements; insurance records; affiliate arrangements;
				inventory records; accounting, sales, and tax records; records of ownership; or
				articles of incorporation, bylaws and operating agreements.
(7) "C.F.R." means Code of Federal
				Regulations.
(8) "Cash value
				voucher" means a WIC food instrument used by a participant to obtain fresh
				fruits and vegetables.
(9) "Civil
				monetary penalty" means a sum of money imposed by the WIC program for
				noncompliance with program requirements.
(10) "Contract" means the department's
				standard WIC contract form that, once completed and signed by both parties,
				becomes the written legal document binding a vendor and the department to
				designated terms and conditions and authorizes the vendor to transact food
				instruments.
(11) "Cost
				containment" means the process of controlling expenses required to operate the
				WIC program.
(12) "Department"
				means the Washington state department of health.
(13) "Disqualification" means the act of
				revoking the authorization and terminating the contract of an authorized vendor
				for a specific period of time or permanently for noncompliance with WIC program
				requirements.
(14) "EBT (electronic
				benefits transfer)" means the electronic system that allows a participant to
				authorize transfer of their government food benefits from a federal account to
				a vendor account to pay for products they buy.
(15) "Food instrument" means a WIC program
				voucher, check, coupon, electronic benefit transfer (eWIC card), or other
				document which is used to obtain authorized foods.
(16) "
Minimum Inventory
				Requirements
" means the document created, maintained and supplied by
				the department that lists the required minimum stock levels of
				department-authorized foods a store must maintain on premises at all
				times.
(17) "Notice of violation"
				means a written document given to a vendor when the department determines the
				vendor has not complied with program requirements, federal WIC regulations,
				this chapter, or a contract.
(18)
				"Participant" means a woman, infant or child receiving WIC benefits.
(19) "Participant access" means the ability
				of WIC participants to purchase authorized WIC foods, with consideration made
				to factors including, but not limited to, geography, population density, and
				participant dietary needs, as determined by the department.
(20) "Peer group" means a group of authorized
				vendors that share certain characteristics and can be expected to have similar
				business practices and prices. Peer group criteria and assignments are
				determined by the department. Vendors in the same peer group are subject to the
				same WIC maximum reimbursement levels. Peer group criteria include, but are not
				limited to, characteristics such as geography or size.
(21) "SNAP" means the federal supplemental
				nutrition assistance program. SNAP was previously known as the food stamp
				program.
(22) "Substantial interest
				holder" means a person who has actual or potential influence over the
				management or operation of any organization, association, or business entity.
				Evidence of substantial interest may include, but not be limited to:
(a) Directly or indirectly owning, operating,
				managing, or controlling an entity or any part of any entity;
(b) Directly or indirectly profiting from an
				entity or assuming liability for debts or expenditures of the entity;
				or
(c) Being an officer or director
				or managing member of an entity.