This interim rule amends the regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children to strengthen vendor cost containment.

This memorandum transmits Attachment 2, a set of questions and answers on the serious deficiency process for institutions and family day care homes. The attachment provides answers to questions on the determination of serious deficiency, corrective action, responsible principals and individuals, appeals, and the National Disqualified List.

This document announces the effective date of the information collection provisions contained in the originally-published rule.

Attached are 18 Questions and Answers about the drug expenses of Food Stamp clients who also receive Medicare. The Questions and Answers concern the phasing out of the Drug Discount Card, Medicare’s implementation of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and Food Stamp Quality Control. We have developed this guidance in consultation with our federal partners.

This memorandum transmits Attachment 1, which compiles questions and answers on institution application requirements raised during our training on the second interim Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) management improvement rule (69 FR 53501, Sept. 1, 2004).

This memorandum has been superseded by  CACFP 10-2018: Conducting Five-Day Reconciliation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, with Questions and Answers. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance regarding the conduct of five-day reconciliations in centers participating in the CACFP.

This rule adds a provision to the Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations that authorizes for-profit centers providing child care or outside-school-hours care to participate based on the income eligibility of 25 percent of children in care for free or reduced price meals.

This interim rule reflects amendments made by section 111 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 which require schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program  to increase the number of food safety inspections from the one inspection currently required to two inspections per year; to post the most recent inspection report in a visible location; and to release a copy of the report to members of the public upon request.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has developed the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) System Transition Guide to provide guidance, recommendations, best practices, and lessons learned to States involved in an EBT system transition.  

This document serves as USDA guidance for the implementation of HACCP-based food safety programs in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP).