Women, Infants and Children Program
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

Introduction

For the past few years, Texas has been actively investigating the feasibility, benefit, and cost of implementing statewide WIC EBT systems. Independently the states of Texas and New Mexico investigated the feasibility of using an electronic card—similar to a credit card—to facilitate prescribing WIC nutritional food packages to WIC participants, streamlining the redemption of the food package at the authorized grocer-vendor stores, and providing electronic reimbursement to authorized grocer-vendors.  The investigations considered the viability of multiple purposes (immunization records, health information, etc.) for the card as a health passport. The participant would desire the additional benefit of a portable health record while the card would facilitate sharing participant demographic, clinical, and financial information among various health-care programs within the contraints of confidentiality. 

The states, in conjunction with their authorized grocer-vendors, consumer advocates, local-agency personnel, and WIC participants, developed functional requirements for an EBT system.  The capabilities of two basic technologies for operating an EBT system, on-line magnetic stripcard technology and off-line computer chip (“smart card”) technology, were compared against the functional requirements.  Both technologies were identified as capable of operating the WIC transaction, and were technically feasible. However, in both cases, current equipment in the authorized grocer-vendor stores could not handle the WIC transactions unless significant upgrades were made. Considering the requirements of the WIC transactions (accounting for food items rather than cash amounts) and the favorable technical aspects of an off-line process, the smart card technology was identified by both states as the best technical solution for WIC EBT.

EBT Mission Statement

Through the use of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and contractual resources, investigates the means to implement an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system that improves the delivery of benefits to Texas WIC participants and improves the processing of WIC program information throughout the State. When an EBT methodology is selected, designs, acquires and implements a Texas EBT system that achieves the objectives of the Texas WIC program and other programs that may be included in the EBT Project.

EBT Development Manager
Electronic Benefits Transfer Development Branch
Nutrition Services Section
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street, M-260 
Austin, TX 78756 
(512) 458-7444

Making the Move – Vouchers to EBT

Last Updated September 11, 2007