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 March 8, 2023
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the federal government extended health coverage, services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults, and provided extra food benefits, along with other regulatory flexibilities. The flexibilities and temporary programs will end as the federal COVID-19 PHE phases out.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are working together to prepare for the unwinding of the COVID-19 PHE. Together the agencies provide benefits and services to 1 in 3 people in Oregon through the Oregon Eligibility (ONE) system. The joint agency effort focuses on the medical, services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults, and food benefits issued through the ONE system.
Current estimates show up to 300,000 Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members may become ineligible as the federal COVID-19 PHE unwinds. Through the medical renewals process, Oregon’s goal is to ensure as many people as possible retain OHP coverage, and other needed benefits and services, or are transitioned to other affordable health coverage with the least disruption possible.
During the 2022 short session, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4035 and appropriated to OHA a total of $120 million to support both OHP redeterminations and creation of a Bridge Program. On March 1, 2023, OHA and ODHS released its latest progress report on House Bill 4035. The 88-page report includes:
- Background information on the Public Health Emergency;
- The medical assistance redetermination process before, during and after the pandemic;
- Information on preserving Oregon’s gains in the medically insured rate;
- History of reporting progress to the legislature on the redetermination process, timelines and risks;
- The planning process for resumption of redeterminations including communications and outreach.
The new Medical Renewals Experience Timeline is an interactive tool outlining the key dates, activities, processes and worker impacts that will happen when the medical benefit renewals begin in April and continue into mid-2024. The goal of this tool is to provide the same situational awareness for both staff and partners, so everyone is on the same page with these processes. This tool is a resource to work with members “where they are” by providing a deeper understanding of the medical renewals process. There are specific member scenarios and key milestones for each renewal period to help members understand how to continue their benefits.
The federal Emergency Allotments food benefit program ended in February. In March people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a decrease in their monthly food benefits. A new Change Guide gives an overview of the Emergency Allotments and explains how partners can help households prepare for the change and access local food resources.
We continue to encourage households to budget accordingly and reach out to their local resources. Visit needfood.oregon.gov to find food resources in your community.
The most important thing SNAP benefit recipients can do to get critical information about their food benefits is keep their contact information up to date. Options for updating contact information can be found at oregon.gov/or-benefit-changes. You can find more information about SNAP Emergency Allotments on the ODHS website, including downloadable communication tools in multiple languages.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Unwinding Toolkit for Legislators gives you information to help prepare constituents for potential changes in health coverage and other benefits. The toolkit is available in multiple languages and includes an overview of what is changing, frequently asked questions and resources for more information.
Join OHA and ODHS for a monthly webinar series for community partners. Webinars are from 10 to 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
What to expect:
- Information on how Oregon is preparing for benefit changes
- Communication tools partners can use to engage people who receive OHP and other benefits including services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults, and food benefits.
- Time for questions and feedback
The webinars are hosted in English and Spanish.
Recordings and materials from past webinars are available at oregon.gov/covid-phe-partners.
ODHS and OHA want to hear your feedback, respond to requests, and answer questions. You can send or forward feedback to feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We’ll work with your ODHS and OHA Government Relations contacts to get you the information you need.
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