AOF Responds to Finalized State Budget

On behalf of our more than 500 member organizations in the field of health and human services, Advocates for Ohio’s Future would like to thank the Ohio General Assembly for recognizing the importance of providing for the safety, health, and well-being of all those they represent.

Actions taken through the Conference Committee process and affirmed by Governor DeWine removed provisions that would have terminated the Medicaid managed care procurement process and derailed crucial efforts to refocus, improve, and personalize Medicaid services for Ohioans. The removal of asset testing and other changes targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has ensured that low-income Ohioans will not be forced to choose between having food and owning a car to get to work or saving for an emergency. In addition, this final budget reinstates $250 million in funding for broadband expansion and allows municipal governments to participate in the all-hands-on-deck approach necessary to give every Ohioan the ability to effectively do their job, finish their school assignments, or receive health care when they need it the most.

Unfortunately, the provision that would allow medical practitioners or health care institutions to decline to perform any health care service that violates their conscience as informed by their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or principles remains in the bill and is signed into law. We are critically concerned about the impact the clause will have on medically underserved Ohioans. LGBTQ+ Ohioans and other members of communities who already don’t seek health care due to perceived or actual bias against them could be denied care under this added language and many will stay home rather than seek needed care. This provision will widen disparities we already have in our health care system.

While there is always room for improvement, the legislature made the decision to remove budget provisions that could have been devastating for many of Ohio’s most vulnerable populations. As a coalition of health and human services organizations, many of our members see daily how these programs have held families together and supported their most basic needs.

We’d like to thank Governor DeWine, Senate President Huffman, Speaker Cupp, Chairman Dolan, Chairman Oelslager and the other members of Conference Committee and the General Assembly for their hard work to finalize the state budget and for investing in our state’s most valuable resource—our people.

We asked you to do better, and you have done so for your constituents. We look forward to continuing our work with you to improve the health and livelihoods of Ohioans into the future.

More than 90 advocates sign onto letter opposing Medicaid procurement changes

This week, 93 organizations, health care providers, and concerned constituents from across the state united with Advocates for Ohio’s Future in releasing a letter calling on Ohio legislators to remove a last-minute budget amendment that would terminate the Medicaid managed care procurement process and derail crucial efforts to refocus, improve, and personalize the delivery of Medicaid services to Ohioans.

Over the past two years, the Ohio Department of Medicaid underwent a transformative and transparent process to overhaul managed care contracts with the goal of improving and streamlining the care delivery experience for managed care companies, providers, and most importantly, Medicaid patients.

Now, following the completion of this process, a Senate-inserted amendment would terminate the Ohio managed care procurement, leaving behind rural Ohioans and dismantling the years-long legislative work to stop pharmacy middle-manning, improve care and coordination for patients including nearly 60,000 multi-system youth, end custody relinquishment and save significant dollars in reduced overhead.

“The status quo is not working, as shown by Ohio’s ranking of 47th nationally for health value,” said Kelsey Bergfeld, Director, Advocates for Ohio’s Future. “The managed care procurement process represents an opportunity to improve quality of care and health outcomes for families and communities across the state. Ohioans cannot afford to wait another two years for better care. They deserve the best care now.”

The state budget conference committee began meeting this week to compare the Governor’s initial version of the budget with those bills passed by the House and Senate. They must meet a June 30th deadline for passage of a single bill by both chambers.

Read our opposition letter HERE.

Press Release: Ohioans Cannot Afford to Stay Disconnected

Advocates call on Conference Committee to restore funding and municipal authority to offer broadband.

(Columbus, OH)—As the budget conference committee continues its hearings on the state’s biennial budget bill, advocates are sounding the alarm over the need to restore both funding for high-speed broadband expansion in Ohio and the authority for municipalities to provide broadband services to their residents.

“For the more than one million Ohioans who lack internet access, the provisions quickly and quietly inserted into the Senate-passed version of the budget will result in a continued lack of connectivity and an even deeper disadvantage,” said Kelsey Bergfeld, Director of Advocates for Ohio’s Future. “We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to make sure every Ohioan has the ability to effectively do their job, finish their school assignment, or receive health care when they need it the most.”

The Senate-passed version of the budget removed $190 million from the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program and inserted language that restricts political subdivisions’ ability to provide broadband service to their residents.

“The best entity to expand service may be a government entity, and there are models across Ohio where a municipality has been providing reliable, high speed broadband service to residents at a competitive cost,” said Bergfeld. “Research has shown that municipal broadband access is a predictor of low-priced broadband ability, and residents without service cannot afford to have another option stripped away or cost-reducing competition squashed.”

Baiju Shah, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership, described the need for equitable digital access in Northeast Ohio. “This amendment severely limits efforts in the Cleveland area to end the digital divide and help low-income residents access broadband internet. Public-private partnerships helped our community respond to urgent broadband needs throughout the pandemic when so many students and people have been forced to shelter in place,” said Shah. “This amendment would restrict such partnerships, expanding rather than ending the divide for so many low-income students, adults, and elders.”

The conference committee will continue wrapping up their work on harmonizing different versions of the budget bill over the next two weeks, with floor action from both chambers required by June 30th.

Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments Heading to Parents in July

On July 15, roughly 39 million households around the country, covering some 88 percent of the nation’s children aged 17 and younger, will get their first monthly payment from the expanded new Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan. The launch date was announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) earlier this week.

The one-time Child Tax Credit expansion for the 2021 tax year will give eligible parents $300 per month for each child under age 6, and $250 for each child ages 6 to 17, including children who turn age 17 in 2021.

Starting in July, the IRS will start sending payments on the 15th of each month, unless it falls on a weekend or holiday. Before the American Rescue Plan, taxpayers couldn’t claim the credit until they filed their taxes. Households will receive the monthly CTC payments through direct deposit, paper check or debit cards.

Most taxpayers won’t have to do anything to receive their payments, but Treasury and the IRS say they’ll be conducting outreach to make more more families aware of their eligibility.

The IRS does urge people with children to file their 2020 tax returns as soon as possible to make sure they’re eligible for the correct Child Tax Credit amount and any other tax credits they’re eligible for. Filing electronically with direct deposit also can speed refunds and advance payments of the child tax credit.

Who is eligible?

Prior to the American Rescue Plan the amount of the Child Tax Credit was up to $2,000 per qualifying child under the age of 17 each year. The increased amounts ($3,000 ages 6-17/$3,600 under 6) will be phased out for incomes over $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and qualifying widows or widowers, $112,500 for heads of household, and $75,000 for all other taxpayers.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

SNAP Pandemic Emergency Allotments Are Vital for Ohio

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allowed the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, through Emergency Allotments (EA). EAs ensure each SNAP household receives the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

To receive SNAP EAs, a state must apply for an extension every month and meet certain requirements. Every state has chosen to use EAs to expand SNAP benefits to recipients in their state throughout the pandemic, including Ohio.

Under the FFCRA, recipients not already receiving the maximum SNAP benefit for their household size would receive an EA supplement. This meant that households already receiving the maximum benefit amount, and therefore the most in need, received no additional SNAP support. To correct this, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 increased all SNAP benefits by 15%, an average of $28 per Ohioan per month.

SNAP Maximum Allotments, used to determine how much EA an enrollee should receive.

Source: https://emanuals.jfs.ohio.gov/CashFoodAssist/FACM/FACT/FACT-80.stm

Later, in April 2021, FNS released new guidance bringing all SNAP Emergency Allotments up to at least $95 per month, regardless of if the individual was already receiving the maximum benefit. As a result, in May 2021, 741,494 Ohio households received Emergency Allotments, totaling $122.5 million in 100% federally funded benefits flowing into the state.

SNAP EAs have brought $1.2 billion in federal funds into the state since March 2020. In order for Ohio to continue to receive SNAP EAs from FNS, both the federal public health emergency and the state emergency declaration must be in place.

If the state’s emergency declaration were to end, the Ohio National Guard’s deployment to 14 Ohio food bank locations to assist with the staggering need for food assistance across the state would also end.

To accommodate the ending of many states’ emergency declarations, FNS has announced that a state can apply to receive a SNAP EA extension for one month after the month in which that state’s emergency declaration ends, but one month is not enough to prevent the enormous cliff SNAP recipients will face once EAs end.

None of the COVID-19 assistance programs will last forever, but policy makers need to craft a plan to address food insecurity in Ohio. The pandemic is not over, and the pandemic’s effects on Ohioans will linger for years to come. It’s vital that the COVID-19 disaster declaration remains in-tact until Ohio’s economy has recovered so families continuing to struggle from the pandemic can continue to receive necessary support to stabilize and get back on their feet.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

FCC Announces Start of Emergency Broadband Benefit

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, access to high-speed internet has been a critical lifeline to jobs, healthcare, school, friends and family, and much more. Broadband access and affordability has been a central tenet of Advocates for Ohio’s Future’s budget advocacy, which is why AOF is excited to share this update on a program to help achieve this goal.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced that the Emergency Broadband Benefit application will go live on May 12, 2021. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program that will help families and households who struggle to afford internet service.

Eligible households can receive a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service, and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The program also provides a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop, or tablet from participating providers.

“For many Ohioans, the main barrier to broadband access is not geography, but cost.”

— AOF's Testimony on the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program

A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level, or already participates in SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline

• Is approved to receive free and reduced-price school lunches or the school breakfast program in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year

• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020

• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program

Beginning on May 12 households can apply in three ways:

• Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process. A full list of Ohio participating providers is available here.

• Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you. 

• Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742 

The FCC hosted a webinar on the Emergency Broadband Benefit that can be viewed here. Share this program with your community using the outreach toolkit provided by the FCC here.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

Report: Ohio Ranks 47th in Health Value

Last week, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio released their 2021 Health Value Dashboard, which showed that Ohio now ranks 47th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. on health value, down from 46th in 2020. The report attributes Ohio’s poor rank to lack of attention and action in treating childhood adversity and trauma, inequities and systemic disadvantages, and a lack of investment in public health infrastructure leading to missed opportunities for prevention.

Infographic from HPIO’s report.

“Ohioans are living less healthy lives and spending
more on health care than people in most other states.”

— HPIO

The HPIO report also highlights inequities faced by Black Ohioans, Hispanic/Latino(a) Ohioans, Ohioans with Disabilities, and Ohioans with less education and lower income, both among health outcomes and access, and among socio-economic outcomes.

The Equity Profiles in the report are stark, and show that Ohio has far to go to combat racism, discrimination, ableism, and widespread lack of access. To name just a few of these startling numbers, infant mortality is 2.8 times worse for Black Ohioans, and the rate of uninsured adults is 2.8 times worse for Hispanic Ohioans. Adult depression is 3.6 times worse for Ohioans with disabilities, and an inability to seek care due to cost is 2.6 times worse for Ohioans with disabilities. Uninsured rates are 6.6 times worse, and prenatal care is 3.7 times worse for Ohioans with less than a high school education.

Infographic from HPIO report.

According to the HPIO report, it’s also estimated that life expectancy in the U.S. dropped by 1.1 years in 2020, which amounts to the largest decline in a single year in more than 40 years. The decline in life expectancy for Latino and Black Ohioans, however, declined much more drastically, down 3.1 years for Latino Ohioans and down 2.1 years for Black Ohioans.

Read HPIO’s report HERE to learn more about the very real impact of racism on the health and well-being of Ohioans.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

AOF Testifies on State Budget Changes and HB 145 This Week

After the House Finance Committee released Substitute House Bill 110 on Tuesday, which includes the first round of amendments to the Operating Budget for FY2022-2023, Advocates for Ohio’s Future submitted written testimony to the House Finance Committee applauding several proposals, while cautioning that more can be done to support Ohioans.

AOF was pleased to see an increase in funding available for counties to administer Adult Protective Services, and an additional $5 million awarded to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

While AOF is celebrating partial wins with increased investments in broadband access and new reporting requirements for TANF spending, we urged the House to consider broadband affordability in addition to access, and asked for additional reviews and reporting on how TANF earmarked dollars are spent.

Read AOF’s testimony on Sub-HB 110 HERE.

This week, AOF also submitted written testimony in support of HB 145, which would expand eligibility for publicly funded child care to 200% of the federal poverty level. Ohio’s publicly funded child care system currently sets initial eligibility at 130%, meaning that families above the 130% FPL income level, or who make more than $13.75 per hour, are unable to enter the publicly funded child care system.

“Ohio ranks near the bottom, among all 50 states, when it comes to helping parents afford high-quality child care...Only two states make it harder to qualify for support to afford child care.”

— AOF's Testimony

HB 145 would make it so that families earning up to 200% FPL would be eligible to enter the publicly funded child care system. In 2021, 200% of the federal poverty level amounts to $34,840 annually for a single parent and child, and $43,920 for a family of three.

Read AOF’s testimony on HB 145 HERE.

Ohio Medicaid Announces Managed Care Contract Winners

Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid announced the six health care companies that were selected as part of an overhaul of Ohio’s $20 billion managed care system, in the culmination of a procurement process that has lasted more than two years and has been touted as the largest contract in Ohio state history.

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Humana, Molina Healthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and CareSource will be part of Ohio’s sweeping Medicaid managed care reform, which will work to re-focus the managed care system on the 3 million Ohioans with Medicaid coverage, rather than on the business of managed care.

ODM scoring of the six awarded contracts

Medicaid enrollees will continue to have coverage through their current plan until the 2021 open enrollment period this summer, when members can select a new plan to begin coverage in early 2022.

Buckeye Community Health Plan’s bid decision has been deferred, and Aetna Better Health of Ohio and Paramount Advantage, both of which are current Ohio Medicaid managed care organizations, were not awarded contracts.

Ohio Medicaid’s next generation program will also include program coordination with OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a managed care program designed to serve Ohio youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs. Earlier this month, ODM announced that Aetna Better Health of Ohio would serve as the managed care organization for the OhioRISE program.

Ohio’s current health care system leaves gaps in care for youth with complex needs. It’s estimated that each day, 140 Ohio kids live out of state to access needed behavioral health care, at a cost to the state of $1,100 per day. Some families of youth with complex needs voluntarily relinquish custody of their child as a last resort for their child to receive the expensive, multi-system care needed.

Through OhioRISE, Aetna Better Health will create coordinated services across multiple state agencies, and will expand access to in-home and community-based services to prevent the need for voluntary custody relinquishment and better support Ohio’s children. Ohio will aim to enroll between 55,000 and 60,000 Medicaid-eligible children, up to age 21, in OhioRISE.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

New Report: SNAP Has Exceptional Program Integrity

A new report shows that despite public perception of fraud in many safety net programs, there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), either in Ohio or nationwide.

Our friends at The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) released a report on Monday detailing SNAP’s strong anti-fraud protections. Written by CCS Consultant Rachel Cahill, the report details the SNAP eligibility determination process, which includes information submitted by the applicant, an interview by a county caseworker, and confirmation through 19 different electronic data sources before an applicant is approved for benefits.

According to the report, only a small fraction of SNAP participants each year are disqualified from benefits due to intentional program violations, and fewer than 1 percent of SNAP benefits are “trafficked,” defined as “the buying, selling, stealing, or otherwise effecting an exchange of SNAP benefits…for cash or consideration other than eligible food.” Ohio’s payment error rate, a measure calculated by including both underpayments and overpayments, was also low and in-line with national averages in fiscal year 2019.

“SNAP is a highly effective, efficient, and accurate program that delivers critically-important nutrition assistance to the lowest-income Ohioans every month.”

— Rachel Cahill

Cahill writes that “SNAP eligibility determinations are so thorough and reliable, in fact, that many other assistance programs use SNAP enrollment as a proxy for their own eligibility (such as the WIC Program, Free and Reduced-Price School Meals, and the Lifeline Program).”

With recently proposed legislation, most notably Senate Bill 17 sponsored by Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), seeking to make changes to eligibility requirements for SNAP recipients and other safety net programs, Cahill’s report makes it clear that additional administrative barriers to accessing SNAP benefits are redundant and excessive. SNAP is a strong program that is vital for 1.5 million Ohioans, and lawmakers should create more opportunities to expand access to benefits so Ohioans can get the help they need.

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Join the Fight Against SB 17

• Sign on to AOF’s letter that will be delivered to all members of the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee and Senate Majority Leadership opposing SB 17. Sign on HERE.

• Share CCS’s report in your community and with your state legislators.

• When speaking with others about SNAP, emphasize that SNAP is a strong, important program free of widespread fraud.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

AOF Testifies on H.B. 55

Susan Jagers, Director of the Ohio Poverty Law Center, testified as a proponent of H.B. 55 on behalf of Advocates for Ohio’s Future, in front of the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee today. H.B. 55, sponsored by Representative Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati), would allow the General Assembly to conduct session and committee hearings, including accepting virtual witness testimony, during a period of emergency declared by the Governor.

In the second hearing for H.B. 55 on Thursday, five witnesses testified in person in support of the bill, and an additional 49 witnesses submitted written proponent testimony to the committee. In addition to AOF’s testimony, a number of AOF member organizations submitted testimony, including the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, The Center for Community Solutions, the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, and the Ohio Poverty Law Center. View all H.B. 55 testimony HERE.

In our testimony to the committee, AOF outlined the barriers most Ohioans face to appearing in person at committee hearings, such as taking time off work, finding child care or dependent care, securing transportation, and being exposed to COVID-19 by leaving their homes. While written testimony submission remains an option for any interested party or individual, written testimony does not allow committee members to engage with the witness or ask questions, and does not carry the same weight as live testimony from witnesses.

“As you consider Ohio’s path forward towards an equitable recovery, we ask that you elevate our state’s
greatest resource — our people — in the decision-making process. ”

— AOF's Testimony

AOF also urged legislators to make virtual committee testimony a permanent option for Ohioans to participate in the legislative process, which would also open new pathways for older Ohioans or Ohioans with disabilities to engage more deeply with legislation that impacts their lives.

Read AOF’s full proponent testimony HERE.

Susan Jagers, Director of the Ohio Poverty Law Center, testifies on behalf of AOF.

Tracy Nájera, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-Ohio, testifies in support of H.B. 55.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

2021 Federal Poverty Level Scorecard

With unprecedented changes in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, a systemic loss of jobs and an overwhelmed unemployment system, Ohio’s workers have faced countless challenges over the last year. Not much has changed for Ohio workers in the top 10 jobs from last year. Compared to our 2020 Poverty Snapshot, 6 of Ohio's top ten jobs still don't pay a living wage and those workers and their families continue to struggle.

AOF is releasing our 2021 Ohio Poverty Snapshot resource card, showing that having a job doesn’t always mean earning a livable wage or being able to make ends meet.

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2021 Poverty scorecard

The front of our resource card lists the 2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which are used to determine who is and who is not eligible for benefits through public support programs.

200% of the Federal Poverty Line is typically considered the baseline income needed for self-sufficiency.

ohio’s workers still live in poverty

The back of the snapshot lists the 10 most common Ohio jobs, and the median wage among those workers.

As the table shows, 6 out of the 10 most common Ohio jobs leave families under 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, making families reliant on Medicaid, food aid or cash assistance.

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Join the Conversation:

• We encourage you to print and share this resource with your friends, colleagues and your state lawmakers.

• If you would like a copy of the card sent to you, please send us an email with your name and mailing address

• When you share this news in your community, emphasize that government investments in public support programs benefit all Ohioans.

by: Sarah Hudacek, AOF Policy Assistant

AOF Submits Testimony on State Budget Proposal

Read our full testimony and proposed changes HERE

This week marked the last opportunity for stakeholders to submit testimony to the House Finance Subcommittees focusing on different sections of House Bill 110, the FY2022-2023 State Operating Budget. Stakeholders were encouraged to submit written testimony only to avoid crowded hearing rooms. The first round of amendments are due early next week and the bill will continue to be heard in full House Finance Committee. Here’s a preview of our testimony to the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services:

“A full year into the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout, we recognize that it will take many months, if not years, for Ohio’s families, businesses and communities to recover. As case numbers fall and vaccination rates climb, families across our state continue to struggle with basic needs like food security and housing, the weight of the pandemic on their mental health and finding employment in a different workforce landscape.

This budget holds opportunities for our elected leaders to invest in Ohio’s workforce, families and community services to ensure all Ohioans recover successfully from the economic and public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Increases in basic needs assistance and targeted, smart investments in work supports for Ohioans and their families, that last the duration of the economic fallout—not just the public health crisis—will do more to support our recovery and empower our citizens to help themselves as soon as it is deemed safe.”

Read our full testimony and proposed changes HERE

Join the Fight Against SB 17

Advocates for Ohio’s Future is asking organizations across the state join the fight against the harmful provisions of Senate Bill 17 by signing on to the letter below. The letter will be delivered to all members of the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee and Senate Majority Leadership.

During a time of crisis our leaders should be working to support those who are struggling, not building additional barriers for children, families, working adults and seniors to get the help they need.

Chairwoman Roegner, Vice Chair McColley, Ranking Member Craig and Members of the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, 

The leaders of Advocates for Ohio’s Future and the undersigned organizations unite to voice our opposition to the proposed changes in eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and unemployment insurance included in Senate Bill 17.  

All people need safety and security, especially in the middle of a pandemic and a recession. Public programs like SNAP, Medicaid and unemployment insurance are the strongest lifelines to ensure our neighbors have the supports they need during these challenging times.  

SB 17 will hurt Ohio’s recovery. It will worsen food security and health outcomes and prevent millions of federal dollars from flowing into Ohio communities. It punishes workers and creates more barriers for children, families, working adults and seniors to get the help they need. 

During a time when 737,000 Ohioans didn’t have enough to eat over a week’s time, 1 in 5 Ohio kids are living in poverty and over 130,000 children are uninsured, leaders should be looking for ways to support their struggling neighbors rather than put up more barriers to assistance. If this body wants to help people earning low wages, the General Assembly should instead create a benefit-bridge so workers and families with low-incomes can gain greater stability. 

Our children are counting on us to create the Ohio they deserve. We want to live in a state where we create opportunity—not barriers, care for and invest in people and focus on equitable recovery. This means securing robust public assistance policies and strongly rejecting any rules and requirements that, grounded in systemic racism, dilute the efficacy of programs like SNAP, Medicaid and unemployment compensation.  

We urge you to oppose Senate Bill 17 and work towards policies that support the safety and security of Ohioans in times of crisis.  

Sign on HERE

Senate Bill 17 Seeks to Restrict Eligibility for Food Assistance and Health Care During a Pandemic

Senate Bill 17 was introduced in January 2021 by Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster). SB 17 makes changes in eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, work and education requirements for certain Medicaid recipients, requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program electronic benefit transfer cards, and eligibility for and overpayments of unemployment compensation.

Senator Schaffer claims these reforms will “repair our safety net so that it’s strong enough to catch the needy, the folks eligible to receive--and need--public assistance.” Read his testimony HERE

AOF and our partner organizations disagree. SB 17 does not protect the safety net and exposes vulnerable Ohioans to loss of critical, earned support in challenging times. It punishes workers and creates more barriers for children, families, working adults and seniors to get the help they need.

All people need safety and security, especially in the middle of a pandemic and a recession. The General Assembly should instead create a benefit-bridge so workers and families with low-incomes can transition from supports into stability.

AOF will be keeping a close eye on this bill and speaking to policymakers about it’s implications. Stay tuned for additional updates on the progress of this bill through the legislative process. As of February 5, SB 17 has received a first hearing in Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee.

New Report: A Brighter Future for Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Program

New Medicaid Managed Care Contract Positions Ohio to Substantially Improve Access to Health Care for Vulnerable People

Our partners at the Ohio Poverty Law Center released their most recent report, A Brighter Future for Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Program, which examines provisions of the new Medicaid Managed Care contract that should improve legal aid clients’ ability to access services. The Ohio Department of Medicaid released its Request for Applications for the provision of Managed Care health care services to Ohioans enrolled in the program on September 30, 2020. The Department is expected to award contracts as early as this week.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid sought comments on the state of its managed care program from Medicaid recipients, advocates, and other consumer stakeholders throughout 2019 and received nearly 1,000 responses. The legal aid community responded by highlighting multiple issues that needed to be addressed to better serve low-income Ohioans. The report highlights four areas where the new contract makes improvements that can significantly improve the managed care program:

• Services to children, especially those with complex health issues,

• Grievance and appeals process requirements for contracted plans,

• Care coordination, and

• Social determinants of health.

“If fully implemented and enforced, the new Medicaid plan can dramatically improve program performance and outcomes for the one in four Ohioans who receives health care coverage through Medicaid managed care,” said Graham Bowman, staff attorney for the Ohio Poverty Law Center. “The new contract positions Ohio to make substantial improvements in addressing access issues for low-income Ohioans.”

Read the full report HERE

Governor DeWine Asks President Biden For Help To Address COVID-19

Governor Mike DeWine sent a letter to then President-elect Biden on January 18 asking for additional funding and resources to help Ohio fight the coronavirus pandemic.

First on his list of requests was more vaccines-an effort President Biden has pledged to address via executive order. The Governor says the state can handle standing up more mass vaccine sites but must first have an adequate supply to distribute. He also specifically asked for assistance on a strategy to vaccinate seasonal and migrant workers who are critical to Ohio’s farm economy.

DeWine also asks for a robust national television, radio, and social media campaign on the merits of the vaccine and mask-wearing to supplement the new state media campaign that hit airwaves this week.

In addition to CARES Act dollars, he asks President Biden to urge Congress to provide $350 billion to state and local governments and greater flexibility to better target federal dollars.

To ensure Ohioans have access to health care, especially those who lost their jobs and health coverage during the pandemic, Governor DeWine requested President Biden have his Administration extend the temporary increased federal Medicaid support (eFMAP) and create a step-down process tied to the gradual process of economic recovery rather than continue the threat of an abrupt stop every 90 days. Currently, Ohio receives an additional $300 million in federal Medicaid dollars per quarter to support increasing caseloads in the Medicaid program.

He closes with a request for significant federal investments in public health infrastructure and flexible resources to address the lack of (and barriers to) broadband access for over one million Ohioans.

Read Governor DeWine’s full letter HERE

SNAP Online Food Purchasing Expands in Ohio

Although the federal 2014 Farm Bill authorized a pilot Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online food purchasing program by early 2020 only a handful of states and retailers were onboarded.

In recent years, big box grocery retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, Meijer and Giant Eagle have allowed customers who pay with a credit or debit card to shop for food online, pay online and pickup “curbside.” In most cases this means that not only do customers not have to physically enter the store, they don’t have to get out of their vehicles. These COVID-19 friendly opportunities, however, have not always been afforded to all customers, with SNAP beneficiaries in most states unable to participate in the online purchasing program before the pilot concluded.

Since last spring, the SNAP online purchasing pilot grew exponentially—allowing SNAP beneficiaries to grocery shop and pay online using their Ohio Direction or Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transaction (P-EBT) card.

Until recently, the only retailers approved to accept SNAP payments online in Ohio were Walmart and Amazon, both of which offered delivery to certain ZIP codes for a fee that could not be paid for with SNAP benefits. In December 2020, the grocery shopping and delivery service Instacart announced a partnership with Aldi. The new partnership allows Instacart shoppers to use SNAP cards to buy groceries for same-day delivery and pickup at more than 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide, including in Ohio.

Learn more about this expansion and potential downfalls from our friend Hope Lane at The Center for Community Solutions HERE

AOF Sets Budget and Policy Priorities for 2021

It will take many months, if not years, for Ohio’s families and businesses to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Increases in basic needs assistance and investments in work supports for Ohioans and their families, that last the duration of the economic fallout—not just the public health crisis—will do more to support our recovery and empower our citizens to help themselves as soon as it is deemed safe.

AOF encourages Ohio's legislative leaders to invest in Ohio’s workforce, families and community services to ensure all Ohioans recover successfully from the economic and public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A balanced approach to the state budget should examine current tax expenditures and new revenue opportunities to solve Ohio's most pressing needs.

Equity should be an explicit consideration in constructing the budget. Laws and policies have institutionalized racism and bias against marginalized groups. Ohio should allocate resources and services to at-risk populations to ensure an individual’s well-being and success are not predictable by race, class, geography, language, gender, or other relevant social factors.

In 2021 AOF, in collaboration with partner organizations will focus our advocacy efforts to:

• Maintain Medicaid eligibility without barriers or cuts so that Ohioans seeking health care and mental health and addiction treatment can continue to access vital services during these multiple public health and economic crises.

• Increase access to broadband to help all low-income families afford high-speed internet access and incentivize internet service providers to update and improve their networks in low-income areas so all Ohio families and businesses have the ability to participate in education, telehealth and Ohio’s economy.

• Support the immediate, emergency needs of low-income children and families by investing in the core components of the TANF program including emergency assistance, work supports (PRC), food, housing, income-support, and child care and ensure unspent TANF dollars are reinvested into sustainable core programs to increase the security of low-income families and expand job training and work opportunities.

We also pledge to elevate and support the following policy proposals championed by our partner organizations:

• Allocate $45 million per year in the biennium to address food insecurity and direct state dollars to Ohio families who need it most. $30 million to support food purchases and $12 million toward non-food essential items that can’t be purchased with SNAP, such as personal hygiene items and household cleaning items.

• Allocate additional state emergency rental, mortgage and utility assistance to help families affected by the pandemic remain in their own homes with adequate food, running water, and functioning electricity.

• Make the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refundable to reward work and make a difference for low-income families who in turn, spend the money in their community on basic necessities.

• Maintain and expand home and community-based services and supports across all populations and systems and increase access to quality providers in all communities.

• Expand eligibility for publicly funded child care from 130% FPL to 200% FPL.

AOF and Partners Ask CMS to Withdraw Interim Final Rule

Earlier this week AOF and a number of our partners submitted formal comments on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS) Interim Final Rule (IFR): Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Provisions in the rule could lead to a reduction in Medicaid benefits and eligibility, limit access to COVID-19 vaccines and generally, contradict the intent of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act—to make sure Medicaid enrollees can access the services they need to stay healthy during this pandemic.

AOF believes all people should have access to high quality, affordable health care. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the role of Medicaid as a first responder in the public health and economic response of states, and Ohio’s program is no exception. More than 300,000 Ohioans have joined the Medicaid program after 1.3 million Ohioans lost not only their jobs due to the pandemic, but also health insurance for themselves and their families.

This is why Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in March, with enhanced federal funding and a requirement for states to comply with a maintenance of effort (MOE) provision. We express our significant concern about several provisions of the IFR, notably those which erode the intent of the FFCRA and enable states to impose a number of coverage restrictions through benefit limits, including the ability to refuse coverage for COVID-19 vaccination, service cuts, increased cost-sharing and result in terminations for individuals who should not be terminated, potentially exposing individuals to the loss of coverage at a critical time in our response to the virus.  

As COVID-19 continues to encompass Ohio, which has a current positivity rate over 18%, the need for consistent access to health care for routine and chronic care, as well as acute care, is obvious. Congress took appropriate measures under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to make sure Medicaid enrollees can access the services they need to stay healthy during this pandemic. The IFR is in contradiction to the Act, the intent of Congress and to the public interest. We strongly oppose these provisions of the Interim Final Rule, and urge HHS to withdraw them immediately.

Read our full comments HERE