Linking WIC Program Data to Medicaid and Vital Records Data: Phase II Report, Data Development Initiatives for Research on Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs-Final Report

by Loren Bell, Parke E. Wilde, and Alex Majchrowicz

This report is a followup to a proposal to create a national database that links State data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with Medicaid and vital records data. The linked information would create new opportunities for Federal and State program administrators, as well as independent researchers, to examine a number of factors related to program participation and dynamics. The report provides an implementation plan for creating a national database, including potential costs, benefits, and alternatives. The initiative is one of three that have the potential to improve the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of research on Federal food assistance and nutrition programs. The other initiatives are addressed in the reports, Linking the Current Population Survey and State Food Stamp Program Administrative Data (E-FAN-04-005-1) and Establishing a Web-Based Data Collection System for National School Lunch and National School Breakfast Program Data (E-FAN-04-005-3).

Keywords: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, Medicaid, program outcomes, program participation, data enhancement, administrative data, Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, FANRP

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Abstract, Acknowledgements, and Contents
• Overview
• Background
• Initiative Summary
• Overview of the Implementation Plan
• Description of Specific Tasks
• Summary of Costs and Schedule
• Summary of Initiative Alternatives
• References
• Appendix A
• Appendix B