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representative any questions or express concerns that they may have regarding the WIC Program. If the WIC representative documents any noncompliance during the monitoring visit, the vendor will receive the appropriate sanction for the violation. Compliance investigations are a series of undercover buys to detect noncompliance. When violations are detected, the State WIC Office may impose sanctions, up to and including, disqualifying the vendor from participation in the Alabama WIC Program. In cases where a pattern must be established to impose a sanction, the State WIC Office will notify the vendor, in writing, upon the first act of noncompliance. The vendor will not be notified when it is determined that such notification would jeopardize the investigation.

Inventory audit is the official examination and documentation of a WIC vendor’s inventory, accounts, and records to determine whether the vendor has purchased sufficient quantities of supplemental foods to provide participants the quantities redeemed by the vendor during a given time period.

Reviews of program reports are conducted to identify vendors who are out of compliance with program rules and regulations. Overcharging Vendor overcharging is intentionally or unintentionally charging more for supplemental food provided to a WIC customer than a non-WIC customer or charging more than the current shelf price for supplemental food provided to a WIC customer.

Vendor overcharging is NOT charging more than the maximum allowable reimbursement level. A vendor can charge less than the maximum allowable reimbursement level and still overcharge the WIC customer.

Vendor overcharging is a serious federal violation that can lead to vendor disqualification.

Vendor Claims When the Department determines that a vendor received payment for improperly processed transactions, a claim will be assessed for repayment.

If a claim is assessed the vendor must reimburse the state WIC agency in full by the due date in the claim notification or the Alabama WIC Vendor Agreement will be terminated.