MODERN WIC Act of 2025: Remote Appointments and Benefit Delivery Coming to WIC

The MODERN WIC Act of 2025 is shaking up the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by bringing it into the digital age. Instead of requiring in-person visits for everything, this bill lets WIC agencies offer appointments and benefit delivery remotely. Let's take a look at what that means for those using the program.

WIC Goes Virtual

This bill updates Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, giving WIC agencies the green light to conduct certification appointments in several ways:

• In-person: The traditional way, still an option.
• By phone: Talk it through on a regular call.
• Video calls: Real-time, face-to-face interaction, but from your own home.
• Other formats: Any real-time, two-way communication method the Secretary approves.

Importantly, all these options must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ensuring accessibility for everyone.

Getting Benefits, Simplified

The bill also tackles how benefits get to participants. Forget always having to trek to a WIC office to pick up your EBT card or other food instruments. The MODERN WIC Act allows state agencies to mail those out or issue them remotely. This change directly amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to cut out that travel requirement.

Fast-Track Eligibility (with a Catch)

Here's a big change: The bill lets state agencies grant temporary WIC eligibility based solely on income. This means you could get benefits immediately, before the full nutritional risk assessment. Sounds great, right? But there's a time limit. That full assessment, including body measurements, must happen within 90 days of certification (SEC. 2).

• Example: Imagine a single mom, working two jobs, who qualifies income-wise. She can get benefits right away, helping her feed her baby. But she must get those measurements done within 90 days, or the benefits stop. This is great, but it puts a lot of responsibility on the participant.

If the state agency doesn't collect the required body measurements within that 90-day window, or if the person doesn't meet the nutritional risk criteria, their certification ends right then. No extensions.

Checking In: The One-Year Report

Within one year, the Secretary has to report back to Congress on how all this remote technology is working out (SEC. 4). This report will cover:

• How video, phone, and online platforms are used for certifications, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
• The impact of these technologies on appointments, participation rates, and participant satisfaction.
• Best practices for using remote tech, keeping data secure, and integrating digital tools into WIC.

This report is crucial. It's the accountability piece, making sure this modernization actually works for the people it's supposed to help. It is important to ensure that participant data remains secure.

Real-World Implications

This bill has the potential to make WIC much more accessible, especially for those in rural areas, folks with disabilities, or anyone juggling work and family responsibilities. No more missed work for appointments or long trips to the WIC office. But, the 90-day limit on temporary eligibility is a potential challenge. Life gets busy, and it's easy to imagine appointments getting missed. Also, not everyone has reliable internet or phone access, so the digital divide could become a real barrier for some. The required report to Congress is crucial for tracking these potential issues and making adjustments as needed.