Nothing spookier than funding cuts
Shutdown talks have reportedly picked up, but SNAP funding and benefits for as many as 42 million Americans are still set to lapse for the first time in modern history.
As the November cutoff for SNAP funding looms and the government shutdown veers into its second month, Congress is seemingly no closer to a resolution to end the stalemate than it was on Sept. 30. Amid mounting pushback from federal employee unions and anticipated pressure from the public stemming from the SNAP cliff, Politico reported that Sen. Majority Leader John Thune offered to facilitate a meeting between Democrats and President Trump “to talk about expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies — if the government is reopened.”
The Medical Frailty Exemption: The Implementation Cornerstone of Medicaid Work Requirements
Congress sought to protect vulnerable individuals from losing coverage by expressly exempting medically frail individuals from work requirements. In doing so, H.R.1 provides for minimum standards for individuals who are medically frail, meaning they experience serious physical and intellectual disabilities, complex medical conditions, behavioral health problems, and/or a substance use disorder.
Historically, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has deferred to states to define medical frailty — a definition that will matter a great deal for Americans who may qualify for exemptions from the forthcoming Medicaid work reporting requirements that will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Defining medical frailty, and determining who qualifies for such exemptions, is another important task added to states’ growing list of action items as new policies implemented under H.R.1 begin to take effect. Manatt toolkits for the State Health & Value Strategies (SHVS) program provide a strong start to the work.
Ex parte data verification is required to identify medically frail individuals and will be essential to states’ medical frailty exemption processes. Simple, straightforward and accessible application screening questions will also help new applicants self-identify as medically frail.
Keep reading at The 80 Million.
ICYMI: SNAP Cuts Add to States’ Mounting Fiscal Pressures
H.R.1 has made sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including expanding program work reporting requirements, narrowing eligibility for certain non-citizens, eliminating over $500 million in food education programs and shifting costs from the federal government to states.
With about $186 billion in SNAP cuts over the next decade, more than 22 million households receiving food assistance could experience greater food insecurity — and state Medicaid agencies could feel the ripple effects.
Historically, states have not been obligated to fund SNAP benefits. The federal government paid 100% of benefit costs and 50% of administrative costs, with state and local governments taking up the balance of administration. H.R.1 fundamentally changes this arrangement by requiring states and local governments to take on more of the cost of administering the program and, for the first time in SNAP history, requiring states to fund part of benefit payments if their payment error rate is 6% or more, according to the according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
The potential fiscal impact to states is enormous, bringing new uncertainty about whether states will trim their SNAP programs.
Keep reading at The 80 Million.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has directed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to establish an exception process for members of the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities program. The initiative aims to increase flexibility for Arizonans with intellectual and developmental disabilities by allowing families who document that they need more direct care or habilitation service hours than assessed to request reviews for extraordinary care needs.
California will invest more than $140 million in state funding to support Planned Parenthood health centers as they seek additional financial resources.
Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) launched a new webpage on H.R.1, which provides information on the federally mandated changes to Medicaid. The webpage highlights educational resources, including an updated fact sheet on Medicaid work requirements. HCPF also launched a survey to understand enrollees’ concerns about H.R.1 and how HCPF can best share information.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is also allocating funds to cover lost federal funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state.
Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally – NPR
Medicaid changes loom for NJ’s next governor – New Jersey Monitor
Disability services staffing squeezed as Medicaid cuts loom – Axios
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