More than 1,200 people in Webster County utilize Women, Infant and Children’s benefits, including pregnant women, postpartum women, infants, and children. But the U.S. House’s multi-trillion-dollar budget reconciliation bill made significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP which directly affect those receiving WIC benefits, local officials say.

According to Emma Bayus, Webster County Health Department program coordinator, Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, automatically qualifies families for WIC benefits if they meet all eligibility requirements.

“With the changing income requirements, we will most likely see less families qualifying for benefits,” said Bayus. “Women, Infants, and Children was created to serve a population at the greatest nutrition risk. Our low-income, Medicaid-eligible families are the ones at the greatest overall risk. In addition, with the decrease in SNAP benefits, participants will no longer have the ability to use their SNAP benefits to purchase extra food and formula needs for the month. WIC benefits have been a pillar for nutrition in communities for over 50 years, and I can’t see the benefit of these services being any greater than they are right now.”

WIC is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services and provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to other services for low-income families in need.

“At a time when we should be working together to build a healthier nation for our children, this bill takes us backward by stripping away essential health care and nutrition assistance from those who need it most,” said National WIC Association President Georgia Machell.

According to Bayus, Webster County Health Department will continue to qualify families based on income.

“Our goal in WIC is to provide tools and nutritious foods for our clients and to work with local health care providers to provide the best, well-rounded care,” said Bayus. “WIC is proven to be associated with large reductions in the rise of adverse birth outcomes. Federal cuts to Medicaid will inhibit food security and nutrition assistance for those in our community that need it the most.”

The budget reconciliation bill awaits action in the U.S. Senate.