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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 web page at Oregon.gov/covid-phe-partners regularly for updates and materials to share information to people who receive benefits.
In this update:
One out of every three people in Oregon are supported and served through the ONE system. Individuals and families receive the medical, food, cash and child care benefits that help them thrive through ONE. Two new dashboards are available on benefits.oregon.gov. The dashboards are designed to display data for:
- Tracking the state’s progress in determining eligibility for medical program applicants and renewing coverage for members.
- Monitoring the experience for people calling the ONE Customer Service Center to apply for or ask for help with medical, food, cash and child care benefits.
The federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency provided protections that allowed states to maintain people’s Medicaid coverage even if there was a change in their lives, incomes or resources. These protections have ended. The federal government has directed states to begin redetermining medical eligibility for all Medicaid members starting in April 2023 and ending within 14 months. View the timeline and process here. The dashboards are tools for the public to check on Oregon’s status and track our progress.
Since medical redeterminations are happening over 14 months, there will be minimal data in the initial medical program eligibility dashboard. The dashboard will expand over the next few months as redeterminations happen and generate more data.
The ONE Customer Service Center dashboard includes data on call volume and wait times, and customer service survey scores. It is updated daily.
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Preparing for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end
Join OHA and ODHS for a monthly webinar for partners on preparing for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end. Webinars are from 10 to 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
April webinars feature:
- Information on medical and food benefit changes
- Updates on outreach efforts to engage and support populations that may miss OHP messages or that need extra help
- An overview of how the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace will support people who lose OHP after eligibility redetermination
- Communication tools for partners
- Time for questions and feedback
The webinars are hosted in English and Spanish. The latest English webinar was held on April 11. The presentation and recording are available.
Recordings and materials from all past webinars are available at oregon.gov/covid-phe-partners.
All participants are welcome. American Sign Language and live captioning will be available. If you have questions about accommodations or need assistance to participate, please email Jon McDaid at least 48 hours before each webinar.
Oregon reviewing health coverage for 1 in 3 state residents
Oregon has begun reviewing income eligibility for approximately 1.5 million Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) members as federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) protections for continuous eligibility have ended. The state is gathering updated information to determine whether a member remains eligible for coverage for OHP and other Medicaid-funded services and supports.
For more information, please read the Oregon Health Authority March 31, 2023, news release.
Pandemic EBT food benefit cards for children are in the mail
By May 31, 2023, each child who is eligible for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits will receive a P-EBT card in the mail. The card will have $391 of food benefits on it. This card is different from a regular electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
You can direct people with questions to the P-EBT call center. The P-EBT call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Dial 844-ORE-PEBT; 844-673-7328. The P-EBT website also has helpful information in English and Spanish.
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Marketplace Transition webinar
Webinar topics included:
- Notices individuals should expect to receive
- Unwinding special enrollment period (SEP) details
- Transitioning during open enrollment
The recording of the English Marketplace Transition Webinar has been posted to the Marketplace Transition partner resource page: https://orhim.info/transition-partner.
Find food resources in your community
People participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) saw a decrease in their monthly food benefits when the federal Emergency Allotments. Please encourage people to visit needfood.oregon.gov (Spanish) to find food resources in your community.
WIC may be a resource for families seeing a reduction in food benefits
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be a resource for families whose SNAP benefits are now reduced. Find out more information about the WIC Program and who is eligible.
Tools for coordinated care organizations
Questions and answers about texting members and other operational topics is now available for coordinated care organization (CCO) staff about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). There is also a script to help CCOs explain the PHE unwinding to their members. These helpful documents are available on the PHE Unwinding webpage for partners:
We want to hear your feedback, respond to requests, and answer questions about the phasing out of the federal COVID-19 PHE. You can send or forward feedback to feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We’ll get you the information you need.
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