Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) applicants and participants are required to provide the following information when applying for WIC services:

Medi-Cal members are eligible for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services if they are:

Medi-Cal members must also:

Providers must document Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) referrals in the member's medical record. The documentation can be a copy of the referral in the member's file or notes in the member's file documenting the visit and subsequent referral.

WIC considers findings and recommendations of WIC referrals to be confidential and declines to share information regarding individual referral findings. WIC has agreed to share aggregate data pending clarification regarding confidentiality from the Department of Agriculture. Until clarification is made, primary care physicians (PCPs) should encourage members to inform PCPs of the outcome of their WIC visits, thereby allowing PCPs to provide appropriate and consistent follow-up and documentation of the outcome of the referral.

The Health Net Medi-Cal County Relations/Service Coordination Department negotiates a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) agencies to ensure coordination and communication between Health Net and the WIC agency. Health Net's County Relations/Service Coordination administrators also work with WIC agency liaisons to resolve any conflicts that might arise between the WIC agency and a Health Net provider or Health Net.

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are responsible for referring eligible members to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs, providing required documentation with each referral and coordinating follow-up care. On request, Health Net or the subcontractor assists in coordinating the WIC referral, including assistance with appointment scheduling in urgent situations.

Referrals for WIC services must be made on one of the following forms:

To be eligible for WIC services, some WIC applicants must provide proof of pregnancy (if applicable), height and weight measurements and blood work.

Learn more at the webpages listed below:

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants receive a packet of food vouchers each month that they can redeem at the local retail market of their choice. They can be redeemed for fresh produce at select farmer's markets, as well as for supplemental foods, such as milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, and juice, which provide nutrients essential for healthy pregnancies and children. WIC participants attend monthly nutrition and health education classes and receive nutrition counseling from registered dietitians and nutrition program assistants. WIC also refers participants to other health and social service programs. Federal law requires the WIC program to promote and support breastfeeding.

WIC does not provide medical nutrition therapy. This is the primary care physician's (PCP's) responsibility. WIC does, however, provide nutrition counseling consistent with the physician's plan of care.

WIC does not provide medically necessary or medically indicated formulas to participants enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care plans. Such formulas, which are referred to as therapeutic formulas by WIC, are a benefit under the Medi-Cal managed care program. When prescribing a medically necessary/therapeutic formula, providers must request authorization from their participating physician group (PPG) or Health Net.

WIC provides standard contract formulas as part of a federally mandated cost containment system. More information on WIC formulas and how to request medical formula and nutritionals can be found below:

Refer members to WIC for more information about services available in their preferred language.