05 VOUCHER TRANSACTIONS AND REDEMPTION

(1) Vouchers must be transacted only for approved foods as described in the WIC Manual. Cash and/or credit, including rainchecks, may not be provided in exchange for vouchers. (2) Vouchers must be transacted only up to the amount of food specified. (3) Prices charged for approved foods must be the same or lower than the current prices charged to other customers, excluding sales tax which may not be charged. (4) No exchanges of approved foods are allowed following completion of a transaction, except for an exact exchange for food items that are defective, spoiled, or exceed their “sell/use by” date. (5) The participant, parent/caretaker, or proxy must transact vouchers within the month for which they are valid. Vouchers must be submitted for redemption within the time period specified in 7 CFR Part 246 and the WIC Vendor Agreement, as may be amended from time to time. (6) The purchase price and redeemed date must be entered on the voucher before it is signed in the presence of vendor staff. (7) The vendor shall not collect payment from participants for vouchers that are returned from the bank unpaid. (8) The cost of a food package redeemed by a WIC vendor is controlled by the prices submitted periodically by the WIC vendor, as described in WIC Vendor Agreement. (9) Vouchers can be redeemed only up to the amount of the prices submitted by the WIC vendor to the Program. (10) The Department may submit a claim to the vendor for Program violations resulting in unjustified overcharges. These claims will be for redeeming a voucher over the vendor’s reported prices or over the “Do Not Exceed” amount of the voucher, charging WIC participants more for WIC foods than non-WIC customers, charging for items not received by the participant, charging for items not authorized, or charging more than the current shelf price. When questioned by the Department, the vendor shall be given the opportunity to justify or correct the overcharge. The claim for reimbursement is not subject to a hearing or administrative review as stated in 7 CFR Part 246.18(a)(1)(iii) and the WIC Vendor Agreement. (11) The Department may make price adjustments to vouchers containing errors in the purchase price once the voucher has been presented to the Department for validation. The price adjustment must comply with the price limitations as stated in the WIC Vendor Agreement. The price adjustment is not subject to a hearing or administrative review as stated in 7 CFR Part 246.18(a)(1)(iii) and the WIC Vendor Agreement, although the vendor shall be given an opportunity to explain or justify the error in question. (12) The vendor may not appeal to the Department any voucher payment disputes. Authority: T.C.A. §§4-5-202, 4-5-204, and 68-1-106. Administrative History: Original rule filed June 20, 1985; effective July 20, 1985. Repeal and new rule filed August 24, 2000; effective November 7, 2000. Repeal and new rule filed February 8, 2002; effective April 24, 2002. Amendment filed July 1, 2004; effective September 14, 2004.