PRESS RELEASE

Texas Food Instruments Not Redeemable with Louisiana WIC Vendors
Department of Health and Hospitals News Update
BATON ROUGE, La. (September 17, 2008) - Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Texas food instruments issued to Louisiana hurricane evacuees or to Texas residents who have evacuated to Louisiana cannot be redeemed at Louisiana WIC vendors.

WIC participants should visit a local WIC clinic to exchange the Texas food instruments for Louisiana food instruments. The state of Texas should have issued a Verification of Certification (VOC) card to the Louisiana WIC participant. Recipients should bring this card with them to the Louisiana WIC clinic.

Louisiana WIC vendors must not accept Texas food instruments. Any WIC participant who tries to redeem these food instruments must be referred to the local WIC clinic for assistance.

Any questions regarding WIC may be directed to the Partners for Healthy Babies phone line, at 1-800-251-2229.

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