In this update:
Our online library of materials to help you reach Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members and other Medicaid recipients is growing. Now available for downloads and free orders:
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Poster, table tent, flyer, and fact sheet, including an option to add your logo and contact information.
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Social media graphics and posts.
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FAQs and toolkits with content you can use in your emails, social media, WhatsApp, text messages, phone scripts and more.
- Now available in Arabic, English, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese. Coming next: Chuukese, Hmong, and Marshallese, with additional languages being considered.
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Short videos and audio messages explaining what people need to do. (English and Spanish; more coming in early August.)
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Downloadable art for a popup banner for your summer events.
Please keep using the Keep Covered materials to alert OHP and other Medicaid recipients of changes needed.
Do you need additional materials, help with your communication activities, or funding to do more communication with members? Send us a communication technical assistance request.
Tell us how we can help you support Oregonians
Please take our three-minute survey for partners to share ideas about ways we can improve how we are supporting you during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) unwinding. We appreciate your help!
Tips for responding to requests for information during medical renewals
All Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) members will receive a renewal letter in the next year. Please encourage members to keep their address up to date, read their letter closely, and do what it says. One of the most common actions members must do is to submit documents or other information to prove they are still eligible.
Here are the six things you can share with members about responding to requests for information or proof.
1. If you do not respond to a request for information, your benefits would eventually close. You will have 90 days to respond to the request for information. If you did not respond within that time, you will receive a closure notice. You would have at least 60 days advance notice before ending benefits.
2. You might get two separate letters around the same time. One letter would say you have been renewed but will also need to submit information. The other letter will specify what information you need to provide. Think of this as a provisional renewal; you still need to respond.
3. You have many routes to respond or get help:
4. If you need to provide information, you’ll receive a letter with instructions and examples of proof you can provide. Common examples of information you might be asked for include:
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Income: such as paystubs, a profit and loss statement for someone who is self-employed, or a letter from your employer documenting pre-tax income.
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Identity documents, such as a driver’s license, passport, birth certificate or immigration card.
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An interview with a worker. Another letter will tell you when that is scheduled.
5. If there are good reasons you can’t provide the proof needed, contact a local office or partner via the links above, or call at 800-699-9075 (all relay calls accepted). Written or verbal statements from you about why other proof is unavailable are often accepted.
6. If you miss your deadline to respond, it may still be possible to reopen your case within 90 days, or you can reapply again if you are still eligible. Contact OHP as soon as possible via any of the above routes.
Notice Guides are available in English and Spanish to help partners guide OHP and MSP members in responding to notices and requests for information. View the available guides at KeepCoveredPartners.oregon.gov.
SNAP time limits resume this month in eight counties
People who are 18 to 49 years old and don’t have a child under 18 on their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) case might need to start meeting work-related requirements this month to keep their food benefits. These individuals have Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents or “ABAWD” status.
People with ABAWD status can usually only get three months of SNAP food benefits in a 3-year period unless they meet work requirements or have an exemption.
Under the federal guidelines, people who reside in the following counties must be exempt or begin meeting work requirements starting July 1, 2023: Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington. Learn more about the SNAP time limits on the ABAWD webpage.
People with ABAWD status received notices by mail in April and June. Anyone who received a notice should be advised to contact the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) ABAWD team. Call 1-833-947-1694 or email: SNAP.ABAWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Winding down the COVID-19 PHE
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) welcome you to join a webinar series about how the two agencies are working together to wind down the COVID-19 PHE. Each webinar also features resources for partners.
Webinars are held in English and Spanish from 10 to 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
- English webinars: September 12 and November 14.
- Spanish webinars: September 21 and November 16.
American Sign Language and live captioning will be available. If you have questions about accommodations or need assistance to participate, please call 503-945-5488 or email feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov at least two business days before the webinar. We accept all relay calls.
To catch-up on past webinars, visit KeepCoveredPartners.oregon.gov where you will find recordings and materials from past webinars. The latest webinars in July featured updates on food benefits and medical renewals, and outreach and supports for people losing medical coverage.
Visit KeepCoveredPartners.oregon.gov to find a variety of resources in multiple languages you can use to support people in your community through the COVID-19 PHE wind-down.
Available resources include:
- Communications toolkits
- Free Keep Covered campaign materials
- Information about locating food resources in communities
- Medical renewals timelines
- Notice Guides
- Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace resources
- Tools for explaining benefit changes
Data dashboard expanded, updated daily
A Medical Redeterminations Dashboard tracks Oregon’s progress in renewing coverage for medical program members. It also has data by county and demographic. The dashboard is updated daily.
Email your questions, comments and concerns about the COVID-19 PHE unwinding to feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov. We will use your feedback to help improve our services.
During the COVID-19 PHE, 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 OHP and other benefits, including services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults, and food benefits.
Visit our partner web page at KeepCoveredPartners.Oregon.gov regularly for updates and materials to share information to people who receive benefits.
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