METHODS FOR FACILITATING CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ITEM LISTS WITH UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION CODES FOR ITEMS AND ASSOCIATING THE LISTS TO SPONSOR'S PAYMENT FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CARD PROGRAMS

1 . A method for multiple retailers to participate in restricted spend card programs, comprising:

providing a retailer infrastructure that includes a point of sale server coupled to a store concentrator and to a product tables/price book(s), an adjudication processor and a catalog management processor coupled to the adjudication processor;

using the catalog management processor to create one or more catalogs of UPC's for each of a participating retailer, wherein, each of a catalog including first and second sets of UPC data. the first set for national brand products and the second set for retailer private label products.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using each of a catalog to reflect a definition of what is allowed for purchase using the catalog management server system and a financial transaction card.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating at least a portion of catalogs that are in compliance with published guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”).

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating at least a portion of catalogs that are in compliance with a health plan related code.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating at least a portion of the catalogs to be in compliance with sponsor guidelines.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically updating catalogs to a national brands catalog and then with concomitant updates by a retailer to a private label catalog.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating an approved national brands catalog consistent with approval sponsor requirements.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

ensuring that private label items offered by a retailer are within a scope of eligible item guidance.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising;

defining and maintaining a list of the private label items that are within a scope of the national brands catalog.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating catalogs that are in compliance within a scope of regulatory guidance.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating the private label catalog by following different paths of creation and approval.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

combining the different paths converge into a single catalog that can be deployed in a variety of forms.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the catalog management processor to control the national brands catalog, and having the retailer controlling their private catalog.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the catalog management processor to review and approve items in the private label catalog.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the catalog management processor to access a complete list of national brands UPCs for given product families.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

creating a UPC list that contains only UPCs that are consistent with a sponsor guidance.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating between the catalog management processor and a retailer with data files.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

issuing financial transaction cards to buyers by health insurance plans managing Medicare and Medicaid on behalf of Federal and State governments.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using catalogs and financial account structure information as inputs and are matched with items in the market basket.