The End of the Public Health Emergency

Since March 2020, we have been under a Public Health Emergency related to the pandemic. We expect the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) to expire on January 11, 2023. Many program waivers and broad flexibilities that supported low-income families will expire, too. 

One change will come to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household benefit amount. Under the PHE, nearly all eligible households receive what is called the maximum allotment of SNAP benefits. One month after the end of the PHE, many households will experience a decrease in benefits. The decrease in benefits represents an estimated $120 million per month for Ohio households. Too many Ohioans are experiencing food insecurity because of the high cost of groceries and other household expenses. When the SNAP benefits are reduced, there will be additional strain on our already-overburdened foodbank network. 

Another change will impact Ohioans who are insured under the state’s Medicaid program. Under the emergency, there was a commitment that Ohioans would not lose their Medicaid healthcare coverage. When the PHE ends, the Ohio Department of Medicaid will begin to evaluate Medicaid enrollees to re-determine their eligibility. Up to one million Ohioans could potentially lose their Medicaid coverage. 

As the health and human services providers prepare for the changes for the clients they serve, we ask that Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly invest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) state recovery funds in Ohio's network of foodbanks, healthcare navigators, civil legal aid, county departments of Job and Family Services, and direct service nonprofits.

Open Enrollment Begins for ACA Marketplace Healthcare Insurance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace healthcare insurance enrollment opened on November 1, 2022. For coverage beginning on January 1, 2023, Ohioans should sign up by December 15, 2022. Individuals can enroll at HealthCare.gov or visit CuidadoDeSalud.gov.

Health insurance is expensive and can be hard to afford for people with lower or moderate incomes, particularly if they are not offered health benefits at work. Sliding-scale subsidies to lower premiums and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs are available for eligible individuals.

Get Covered Ohio is a collaborative effort to connect Ohioans to free information and assistance exploring their health insurance options, enrolling in health coverage, and understanding and using their coverage. It is led by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and includes eight local and regional organizations providing Navigator services.

Ohio Medicaid Next Generation Member Managed Care Plans Rollout

Ohio Medicaid’s final Next Generation phase begins on December 1, 2022, with the managed care plans rollout following the implementation of OhioRISE on July 1 and Centralized Credentialing and the Single Pharmacy Benefit Manager on October 1.

All eligible Ohio Medicaid members have the option to choose their Next Generation managed care plan now through November 30, 2022, by:

• Visiting the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline Website at www.ohiomh.com.
• Contacting the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at (800) 324-8680. The Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline is available Monday to Friday between 7am and 8pm and Saturday 8am to 5pm ET.

ODM will notify impacted members which plan they have been transitioned to. Members can review and select the Next Generation plan that best fits their healthcare needs at any time through open enrollment through November 30. Newborns and case additions will continue to be added to managed care plans as they become Medicaid-eligible during this time.

Ohio Medicaid members in a continuing plan do not need to do anything and will remain with their current managed care plan. Individuals who are newly eligible for managed care, those who are currently in Medicaid fee-for-service but not enrolled with a managed care plan, and those with a gap in eligibility of 91+ days will receive care paid for through Medicaid fee-for-service until December 1, 2022, when they will be transitioned to an Ohio Medicaid Next Generation plan.

The Next Generation managed care plan changes do not apply to MyCare Ohio plans, which will continue to provide benefits to Ohioans who receive both Medicaid and Medicare benefits, with enhanced coordination or medical, behavioral, and long-term care services. Additionally, OhioRISE enrollees will receive their behavioral health benefits through Aetna and their physical health services through a separate managed care organization or fee-for-service Medicaid.