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County audit urges Medicaid data-sharing to boost WIC participation; health department begins coordination
Summary
An audit of Johnson County’s WIC program recommended using Medicaid-managed-care data to identify eligible participants. County health leaders said they are working with managed care organizations and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to expand data sharing; staff agreed to report back to the board on lessons learned.
A county audit presented April 10 recommends that Johnson County increase WIC enrollment by sharing and matching Medicaid-managed-care data to identify eligible families and reach out to them. The board heard the audit, and Department of Health and Environment officials said they are already working with managed care organizations and state partners to implement data sharing.
Doug Jones, county auditor, summarized research showing WIC’s positive health and economic outcomes, noting that national estimates indicate about $3 in health-care savings for every $1 spent on WIC. The audit reported about 7,400 annual WIC participants in Johnson County and estimated roughly 6,500 additional eligible people who are not participating. It said WIC payments to local grocery stores totaled over $4 million in 2023, about $1 million of which was spent on fruits and vegetables.
The audit recommended that KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) coordinate Medicaid-managed-care data sharing with local WIC agencies. County health staff said they already receive monthly data files from two managed care organizations, Sunflower Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare; they are working to obtain the Healthy Blue file. County staff noted a gap of roughly 600 people on those lists who are not enrolled in WIC.
County health officials cautioned that expanding enrollment requires additional local resources to screen eligibility and meet with participants; funding for WIC services is federally provided through KDHE. The department also noted federal policy changes and immigration concerns can affect participation levels.
Audit staff recommended the county health department return to the board with updates on data-sharing progress and lessons learned. Management agreed. Commissioners asked about program capacity, use of adjunctive eligibility programs and administrative improvements such as the electronic card and electronic records used to streamline enrollment.
No board action was taken; staff said they will continue coordination with KDHE and managed care organizations and will report back with results of data sharing and any requests for additional resources.
