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Update for Legislators
 May 10, 2023
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the federal government extended health coverage, including 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 one in three 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 ONE.
In this update:
Your newsletter has a new look
We’re sure you noticed things look different here. The new banner at the top of this newsletter is now more aligned with our Keep Covered campaign. The campaign begins this month and is a concerted effort to reach out to a variety of communities to prepare Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members and those who receive other Medicaid benefits for renewals.
State lifts COVID-19 response measures as federal emergency ends May 11.
Lifting of COVID-19 vaccine requirement for education, health care workers among flurry of changes taking effect in coming weeks.
This week, state health officials will lift a number of measures that helped protect people from COVID-19 infection and expanded access to services during the heights of the pandemic. Oregon Health Authority with the Oregon Department of Human Services and other state agencies held a media availability Wednesday, May 10 to discuss these changes.
The changes affect a wide range of programs and services. A summary of these changes is posted on the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website. Some changes will take effect May 11, and others will take effect in the coming weeks. Other changes put in place during the COVID-19 emergency will continue after the end of the federal emergency.
Highlights of the changes resulting from the ending of the federal public health emergency include: vaccination requirements; exposure and isolation guidance; school testing for students and staff; COVID-19 reporting; and health care coverage.
Preparing for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end
The next OHA and ODHS webinar for partners on preparing for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to end will be in Spanish on May 18. The webinar is from 10 to 11 a.m. Register here to attend.
This month’s webinars feature an overview of the Basic Health Program. Recordings and materials from all past webinars in English and Spanish 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.
Health Insurance Marketplace hosts June webinars
People no longer enrolled in the OHP 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 Marketplace is hosting a round of live webinars in both English and Spanish. These webinars will discuss transitions from the Oregon Health Plan to Marketplace coverage during the unwinding process. Topics will include:
- Notices individuals should expect to receive
- Unwinding special enrollment period (SEP) details
- Transitioning during open enrollment
Plan to attend these webinars:
Communications toolkit for legislators
See the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Unwinding Toolkit for Legislators or visit the End of the Public Health Emergency website for more information.
Eligibility Operations Dashboards
Two 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.
Marketplace Transition Project Information Sheet
People no longer enrolled in the OHP 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 a comparison tool for health insurance plans.
Medical renewal timeline
Oregon is reviewing income eligibility for approximately 1.5 million 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. See the interactive Medical Renewals Experience Timeline for key dates, activities and processes. For more information, please read the Oregon Health Authority March 31, 2023, news release.
Notices Guides
Notices Guides outline the general sections and content of different types of notices. These guides can be used to help people understand what to expect and how to navigate the medical renewal process. Six guides are available in English and Spanish for the most common notices in the medical renewal process.
Pandemic EBT food benefit cards for children
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 a one-time food benefit of $391 on it.
You can direct constituents 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.
SNAP time limit notifications in 14 counties
Time limit notices have been mailed to about 40,000 people in 14 counties who are participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and have Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) status.
Oregon will begin to apply SNAP time limits starting July 1, 2023, to people who are 18 through 49 years old and do not have children under 18 in their SNAP filing group. Notices are going to people with ABAWD status in these counties: Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill. Learn more about the SNAP time limits on the ABAWD webpage.
If constituents contact you regarding SNAP time limits, please refer them to the ABAWD team. Call 1-833-947-1694 or email: SNAP.ABAWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Tools for explaining benefit changes
PHE Unwinding Change Tools serve as guides that you can use to educate people about medical renewals and changes to food benefits. Four Change Tools are available.
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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