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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:
PHE Unwinding Change Tools serve as guides that you can use to educate people about medical renewals and changes to other nonmedical benefits that are part of the PHE wind-down. Each tool provides journey maps and scenarios that illustrate what people can expect to experience as well as actions they can take and resources they can use along the way. We offer four tools:
- Oregon Health Plan and Long Term Care
- SNAP for People with ABAWD Status
- SNAP for Higher Education Students
- Emergency Allotments for SNAP Recipients
Send us your feedback: As you share and use these tools, please send feedback to feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov. The team is looking for feedback on what is helpful as well as ideas on ways to improve these tools moving forward.
 
People who are no longer enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will need to enroll in other health insurance coverage. The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) offers health coverage through its federal partner, HealthCare.gov. Health coverage available through the Marketplace are private insurance plans.
The Information Sheet in English and Spanish offers: Unwinding resources; Help Center contact information; how to find help locally, and health insurance plans comparison tool.
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. The webinars are hosted in English and Spanish:
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 is reviewing income eligibility for approximately 1.5 million Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) members. 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. See the interactive Medical Renewals Experience Timeline for key dates, activities and processes.
Eligibility Operations Dashboards available
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 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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Pandemic EBT food benefit cards for children are being mailed
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.
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.
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:
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 ended. 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.
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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