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During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the federal government provided regulatory flexibilities and temporary benefits. Some of these flexibilities and temporary benefits are ending.
The Keep Covered newsletter shares the latest information about changes coming for people with Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other benefits, including services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults, and food benefits.
Visit our partner webpage at Oregon.gov/covid-phe-partners regularly for updates and materials to share information to people who receive benefits.
In this update:
Preparing for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end
Join the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for a monthly webinar series for partners.
What to expect:
- Information on how Oregon is preparing for benefit changes
- Communication tools partners can use to engage people who receive benefits
- Time for questions and feedback
The webinars are hosted in English and Spanish. Webinars are from 10 to 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
Recordings and materials from past webinars are available at oregon.gov/covid-phe-partners.
American Sign Language and live closed captioning will be available. Email Jon McDaid at at least 48 hours before each webinar if you need help or have questions.
 Marketplace Transition
The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace is hosting webinars to discuss transitions from OHP to Marketplace coverage during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency unwinding process.
Webinar topics will include:
- Notices individuals should expect to receive
- Unwinding special enrollment period (SEP) details
- Transitioning during open enrollment
English webinar: Wednesday, March 22 from 10 to 11 a.m., Pacific Time. Register at https://orhim.info/OHIMtransition.
Spanish webinar: Wednesday, March 29 from 10 to 11 a.m., Pacific Time. Register at https://orhim.info/OHIMTransitionSp.
OHIM welcomes all participants. If you have any questions about accommodations or need any assistance to participate please call or email: Amy Coven at amy.coven2@oha.oregon.gov or 503-943-0164 (voice/text). All relay calls are accepted.
The new Medical Renewals Experience Timeline is an interactive tool outlining the key dates, activities, processes and worker impacts that will happen when OHP 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 OHP 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 so partners can 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 adapt to the change and access local food resources.
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. Visit needfood.oregon.gov and alimentos.oregon.gov to find food resources in your community.
Current estimates show up to 300,000 OHP members may become ineligible as the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency 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 renewals and creation of a Basic Health 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 renewals 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; and the planning process for resumption of renewals, including communications and outreach.
Email your questions, comments and concerns about the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency unwinding to feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We will use your feedback to help improve our services.
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