Federal food and medical benefits in place for now

The federal public health emergency has been extended, meaning people receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits won't see them change drastically immediately. But advocates and nonprofit leaders are continuing to sound the alarm that changes may be coming. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra renewed the public health emergency first declared on Jan. 31, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health emergency, which has been renewed roughly every three months, prohibits states from removing people from Medicaid rolls. And SNAP benefits — formerly known as food stamps — were increased in 2020 amid unemployment related to the pandemic. When the public health emergency ends, those benefits will drop back to previous levels. Medicaid Medicaid, which is funded by the federal government but administered by states, provides insurance for some people who are low-income or who have disabilities. Prior to the pandemic, people needed to recertify each year, proving they were still an Ohio resident and still met income guidelines. Income requirements vary depending on household; for an individual it is 138% of the federal poverty line. (The federal poverty level ranges from an annual 2022 income of $13,590 for an individual to $32,470 for a family of five.) In May, Julie Grasson, executive director of Toledo/Lucas County CareNet, told The Courier that when the public health emergency ends, it will be the first time in up to three years that some people need to "recertify" for Medicaid. (CareNet helps people throughout northwest Ohio sign up for health insurance.) On Monday, Grasson stressed that anyone who receives Medicaid or SNAP benefits must ensure their county office of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has their current mailing address so they'll continue to receive benefits when changes do occur. Agencies like CareNet have been trying to raise awareness, but Grasson said at least in Lucas County, where she is based, "it's still not really resonating with people." She said there may not be a sense of urgency right now, but when the public health emergency does end, it will be "crunch time," so it's better to get the information updated now. And, she said, just because you are receiving mail from your Medicaid managed care plan doesn't necessarily mean your county job and family services office has your current information — only that the managers of the plan itself do. CareNet will help people sign up for insurance through Medicaid, as well as the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. To schedule an appointment, call 833-628-4467. Grasson said it's likely the public health emergency could expire in the fall, meaning it will roughly coincide with open enrollment for many health care plans. This, too, may cause "an awful lot of confusion," she said. SNAP benefits Ohio Association of Foodbanks Executive Director Lisa Hamler-Fugitt said in May that increased SNAP benefits have helped more than 700,000 Ohio households purchase more nutritious food among rapidly rising food costs. She estimated that Ohio will lose more than $120 million each month in direct food assistance when the public health emergency ends. She noted that SNAP benefits are completely federally funded. To get SNAP benefits in the first place, Hamler-Fugitt said, a person must have gross income of no more than 130% of the federal poverty level, and must have a net income not exceeding 100% of the federal poverty level after various deductions applied by their county job and family services office. Ron Rooker, executive director of CHOPIN Hall, said many of the Hancock County residents who pick up food at that organization do not receive SNAP benefits. But some do, and he expects an increase in need. On Monday, Rooker said he had expected to see an increase in people coming to CHOPIN Hall's mobile food pantries once food prices and gas prices started to rise sharply. At first, this didn't happen — but more people did come in to CHOPIN Hall itself to pick up food. More recently, CHOPIN has begun to see an increase in people coming to the mobile food pantries, too. Rooker said attendance averaged 120 or 130 families a few months ago, down from a high of more than 300 early in the pandemic in 2020. But last month, it was around 150, and an event two weeks ago drew 177 families representing 414 people. Rooker said he's seeing more new clients, as well as those who are not brand-new but haven't needed help from CHOPIN Hall since 2020. He said the organization has plenty of food available. CHOPIN Hall is open from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The location is 1800 N. Blanchard Street, Suite 125. Rooker encouraged people who cannot make it in during those hours because of their work schedule to call the agency at 419-422-6401. "We're here to help," he said. Staff at Hancock Public Health are "concerned about the changes in food and nutrition services that are provided through SNAP programs, such as free school lunches, WIC benefits on formula, and food stamps for families," wrote health department public information officer Cheryl Miller in a Monday email to The Courier. "My understanding is that currently the benefit will drop drastically, leaving many families with food insecurity." She noted that the recently released 2021 Community Health Assessment indicated that as of 2020, an estimated 1,210 Hancock County children (ages 5-17) live in poverty. "We anticipate this number to go up as Medicaid benefits change," Miller wrote. Arthurs: 419-427-8494