P e n n s y l v a n i a W I C P r o g r a m

1. Electronic Benefits Transfer The Next Five YearsEBT Readiness NWA Technology Conference Atlanta, Georgia November 2007

2. approach to today�s discussion preparing your vendors for EBT preparing your MIS system for EBT EBT feasibility study

3. preparing your vendors for EBT timing start long before you ever anticipate moving to EBT address where you are and where other states are at every opportunity � keep vendors in the loop

4. preparing your vendors for EBT what to cover educate vendors on what EBT is and how it differs from food stamps EBT explain why WIC EBT is a more complex animal than other EBT applications explain the EBT process and equipment needs for each EBT scenario explain pros and cons of each method

5. preparing your vendors for EBT how to cover use vendor advisory work groups try to involve all types of vendors use retail store trainings and forums to educate stores on EBT use mailings to stores if necessary

6. preparing your vendors for EBT what you need to know from your vendors survey vendors on type of front end system and it�s capabilities determine vendor�s equipment replacement cycle

7. preparing your vendors for EBT what is most important??? LISTEN get the feedback and opinions of your vendors� if you don�t get their buy in, your system faces a huge uphill battle!!

8. EBT Readiness What is EBT Readiness? Evaluation of your system against the following; USDA FNS Functional Requirements Document (FReD-E) and, the draft USDA FNS EBT Ready Document published in April 2006

9. EBT Readiness system requirements establish and maintain state WIC food category and subcategory assign food packages by category/subcategory codes maintain UPC code for each item authorized ability to view participants monthly prescription by food category/subcategory

10. EBT Readiness system requirements produce/process reports of benefit issuance, history of food prescription changes, history of electronic benefit authorizations (EBA) view at clinic current EBA balance and future month balances ability to print at clinic current and future EBA balances

11. EBT Readiness system requirements set up card account and assign EBT card to family ability to deactivate card ability to replace card for family ability to change PIN

12. EBT Readiness system requirements if state elects, ability to reuse/reassign card to another family ability to reinstate card reported lost, if found ability to search system to read and access EBA member and benefits displays

13. EBT Readiness system requirements ability to aggregate food benefits for entire household ability to assign the individual participant benefits to the family EBA ability to void/reissue benefits

15. EBT Readiness system requirements ability to transfer an individuals benefits from one family to another (both EBT) if not statewide EBT, ability to transfer member or entire family to EBT from paper system or from EBT to paper system ability to remove a participant from an EBT family

16. EBT Readiness system requirements ability to produce reports to show food usage and purchase patterns for nutrition education counseling ability to determine or assign maximum prices for each food item by peer group ability to determine or assign maximum prices for food categories/subcategories for settlement produce reports on foods purchased

17. EBT Readiness system requirements ability to produce financial management reports for EBT ability to produce rebate reports from EBT ability to produce enrollment and caseload management reports from EBT

18. EBT Readiness system requirements ability to produce vendor management reports capture vendor prices by item identify specific products purchased fraud detection methods (transactions outside store hours, high number of PIN attempts, etc.) provide compliance buy capability

19. EBT Readiness system requirements document EBT training and card issuance status if applicable, ability to enable/disable EBT card issuance by sites or even to individual participants

20. EBT Readiness system requirements produce system administration reports reflecting EBT activity track EBT card stock document participant abuse related to EBT

21. Pennsylvania�s EBT Feasibility Study conducted December 2006 � August 2007 detailed questionnaire and site visits to states that conducted pilots or are in the process of implementing EBT observed clinic, store and participant EBT procedures

22. Pennsylvania�s EBT Feasibility Study off line states reviewed

23. Pennsylvania�s EBT Feasibility Study on line states reviewed

24. Pennsylvania�s EBT Feasibility Study conclusions the least expensive EBT model is at least twice as expensive as our current paper model no existing EBT system is an ideal fit for Pennsylvania. There are positives and negatives with each state�s system FNS funding is not assured for continuing EBT operations partnering with DPW is non-beneficial for WIC

25. Pennsylvania�s EBT Feasibility Study recommendations expand current electronic vendor data collection systems to offer electronic payment options incrementally build necessary EBT infrastructure work closely with the retailer community to consider their preferences and influence their EBT direction to the extent possible monitor other states EBT progress keep abreast of emerging technologies (wireless communications, biometrics, etc.)