[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38937-38941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17016]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Reasons for Underredemption of the WIC Cash-Value
Benefit
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection for Reasons for Underredemption
of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit. This collection is a NEW information
collection.
This study informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) about the reasons behind underredemption of the
cash-value benefit (CVB) issued to participants in the Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
FNS is particularly interested in how CVB redemption rates are affected
by State agency policies and practices.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 7, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ruth Morgan, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
the attention of Ruth Morgan at 703-305-2576 or via email at
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the online instructions at http://www.regulations.gov for submitting comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Ruth Morgan
at 703-457-7759.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on (a) whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
that were used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: Reasons for Underredemption of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious supplemental foods,
healthcare referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education to
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and
children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. A Final Rule was
published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2014 (79 FR 12273) that
revised the WIC food packages to add a monthly cash-value benefit (CVB)
for the purchase of fruits and vegetables. This rule also detailed
specific provisions for the value of the CVB, the types of fruits and
vegetables authorized, and other State options for providing this
benefit. Recent studies have estimated that redemption rates for CVBs
range from 73 percent to 77 percent; 1 2 however, the
reasons for
[[Page 38938]]
underredemption of this benefit have not been fully explored. FNS has
funded this study to determine the barriers to CVB redemption and the
effects of State agency policies, practices, and other factors on CVB
redemption rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Phillips, D., Bell, L., Morgan, R., & Pooler, J. (2014).
Transition to EBT in WIC: Review of impact and examination of
participant redemption patterns: Final report. Retrieved from
https://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/Altarum_Transition%20to%20WIC%20EBT_Final%20Report_071614.pdf.
\2\ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
(2017). Review of WIC food packages: Improving balance and choice:
Final report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/23655.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are a variety of WIC State agency policies and practices that
may contribute to CVB underredemption, including but not limited to:
vendor authorization and selection policies, the forms of fruits and
vegetables allowed, vendor minimum stocking requirements, and
participant tools and training available. Other State and household
factors may also affect redemption rates, such as geographic access to
WIC vendors or household preferences for certain types of fruits and
vegetables.
In order to identify the factors associated with CVB redemption and
examine the effects of State agency policies and practices on CVB
redemption rates, FNS is conducting a study in 12 States, with more in-
depth data collection occurring in 4 of these States. The study will
gather data from WIC State plans and policy documents, administrative
records, and WIC participants. State plan and policy document data will
be collected from 12 States and used to identify variations in State
agency policies and practices that may affect CVB redemption rates.
Administrative record collection will be limited to electronic benefit
transfer (EBT) data previously collected from 12 State agencies for the
WIC Food Cost Containment Practices study (OMB Number 0584-0627,
Expiration Date 09/30/2020). EBT data will be used to calculate rates
in each of the 12 study State agencies and, in conjunction with the
policy data, will be used to assess the ways in which redemption rates
vary with differences in policies and practices. Participant and State
agency staff interviews in 4 of the 12 States will be used to
understand the factors that are most salient to participants in making
decisions about purchasing fruits and vegetables with their CVB and
barriers to redemption. FNS will select two States with low CVB
redemption rates, one State with an intermediate redemption rate, and
one State with a high redemption rate for participant and State agency
staff interviews.
Affected Public: (1) State, local, and tribal governments; (2)
nonprofits; and (3) individuals. Identified respondent groups include
the following:
1. State, local, and tribal governments: State agency staff in four
States, local agency staff at six local agencies, and clinic staff at
six clinics.
2. Nonprofits: Staff at two local agencies and two WIC clinics.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Local agencies and clinics may be either government or
nonprofit organizations. It is assumed that no contacted local
agencies or clinics will refuse to participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Individuals: WIC participants in four study States.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 317 (20 State and local government staff, 4 nonprofit
staff, and 293 individuals). Of the 317 respondents to be contacted,
257 are expected to be responsive, and 60 are expected to be
nonresponsive. The breakout follows:
1. 20 State and local government staff: Of 8 State agency staff to
be contacted across 4 States, 8 are expected to be responsive; of 6
local agency staff contacted across 6 local agencies, 6 are expected to
be responsive; of 6 clinic staff contacted across 6 clinics, 6 are
expected to be responsive.
2. 4 nonprofit staff: Of 2 local agency staff contacted across 2
local agencies, 2 are expected to be responsive; of 2 clinic staff to
be contacted across 2 clinics, 2 are expected to be responsive.
3. 293 individuals: 9 individuals are expected to participate in a
pretest. Of 284 individuals to be contacted for the main study, 144 are
expected to be responsive.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.5, based on the
estimated 1,417 total annual responses (1,277 responsive and 140
nonresponsive) to be made by the 317 respondents. See table 1 for the
estimated number of responses per respondent for each type of
respondent. The breakout follows:
1. WIC State agency staff: The estimated number of responses per
State agency staff is three. Four State agency staff will receive and
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same four State agency
staff will take part in a recruitment call. Up to eight State agency
staff will participate in a semistructured interview.
2. WIC local agency staff (including state, local, and tribal
governments and non-profits): The estimated number of responses per
local agency staff is four. Eight local agency staff will receive and
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same eight local
agency staff will take part in a recruitment call.
3. WIC clinic staff (including state, local, and tribal governments
and non-profits): The estimated number of responses per local clinic
staff is four. Eight clinic staff will receive and respond to advance
materials and scheduling; the same 8 clinic staff will take part in a
recruitment call.
4. Individuals (WIC participants): The estimated number of
responses per individual is 5.10. In total, nine individuals will
participate in a pretest. 284 individuals will receive a study
brochure. Of the 164 who are eligible to participate, 112 will fill out
the signup sheet for in-person interviews, and 52 will fill out the
signup sheet for phone interviews. Of the 164 who fill out signup
sheets, 20 will not respond.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,417 (1,277 annual responses for
responsive participants and 140 annual responses for nonresponsive
participants).
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated average response time is
0.12 hours for all respondents (0.12 hours for responsive participants
and 0.05 hours for nonresponsive participants). The estimated time of
response varies from 30 seconds (0.0083 hours) to 1 hour depending on
respondent group and activity, as shown in table 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 163.38 hours (156.38
hours for responsive participants, and 7.0 hours for nonresponsive
participants). See table 1 for estimated total annual burden for each
type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
[[Page 38939]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08AU19.026
[[Page 38940]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08AU19.027
[[Page 38941]]
Dated: July 26, 2019.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17016 Filed 8-7-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C