Resources and Toolkits

SNAP Policy Choices That Could Cost States Billions

Common policy missteps states may take in efforts to reduce SNAP payment error rates (PERs), such as adopting change reporting, imposing asset tests, or limiting discretionary exemptions, can have unintended effects of increasing error rates. Instead, states should make informed policy choices, such as adopting simplified reporting, waiving asset tests, allowing discretionary exemptions, and implementing…

How States Will Implement H.R. 1’s Medicaid Policies, Including Those Taking Coverage Away for Not Meeting Work Requirements

Analysis examining how states are likely to implement H.R. 1’s Medicaid provisions, including work requirements and other policies that can put eligible people at risk of losing coverage due to administrative barriers.The resource outlines key implementation timelines under both early and standard implementation scenarios, highlighting the first and last enrollee cohorts affected, major state policy…

States Need More Time to Prepare for Medicaid Work Requirement

States face an unrealistic timeline to implement Medicaid work requirements by January 2027 due to the compliance demands of data integration, system upgrades, and application portal modifications. These challenges are compounded by limited federal guidance, technical system constraints, and insufficient state capacity, making it difficult for states to adapt and administer the changes effectively. Consequently,…

Common Missteps on the Road to Lower SNAP Payment Error Rates

Guidance on state policy chocies that tend to increase SNAP payment error rates include requiring change reporting or monthly reporting, imposing asset tests, and limiting discretionary exemptions. In contrast, states can reduce errors by simplifying reporting requirements, using BBCE, applying exemptions, and using one-month lookbacks to minimize reassessments and ensure coverage for eligible populations.

Coordinating Medicaid and SNAP Work Requirements to Streamline Determinations

States can simplify and streamline determinations for individuals and agenciesand, reduce administrative burden, and minimize unnecessary coverage loss by leveraging the overlap in compliance activities and exemption reasons for individuals applying for or enrolled in both programs. Strategies on aligning exemptions, sharing data, and integrating verification processes highlighted through process flows and crosswalks.

Preparing Consumers for Changes to Medicaid

Webinar communicating new Medicaid work reporting requirements under H.R.1, highlighting how strong outreach strategies can help states protect coverage and support implementation. Experts from GMMB and Health Equity Solutions shared a communications framework and emphasized engaging enrollees in planning and message development.

Eligibility Made Easy (Emmy)

A CMS-developed suite of open-source tools that streamlines income and community engagement reporting for Medicaid applicants and enrollees

Work Requirement Crosswalk

Chart summary of OBBBA provisions on work and community engagement requirements across SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF, with FAQs from state administrators and advocates to support implementation.

Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements

Implementation-oriented framework to support states with adapting to community engagement/work requirements. Features overview of “look back” period and four-step compliance flow including: checking for automatic hardship, screening for exemptions, checking for participation, and allowing for requestable hardship.

Advocates’ Guide to Automated Notices

Guide explaining automatic benefit notice generation process while walking through common underlying system errors (e.g. missing or incorrect information) providing insight on how back-end design decisions cause these issues. Provides strategies to improve notice process and output such as targeted questions on system logic, workarounds for caseworkers, and structural reform through data flow, boilerplate language,…

Implementing Benefits Eligibility + Enrollment Systems: State Responses to H.R. 1

Features interviews from seven states on adaptation journeys in response to SNAP and Medicaid on integrated eligibility and enrollment. Insights include states awaiting federal guidance, standing up work groups, putting technology road map placeholders, prioritizing SNAP PER, making changes to end-of-life systems, rethinking data sharing, and considering population impacts.

Blueprinting SNAP Work Requirements

Blueprint on how work requirement policy impacts the process of SNAP application, determination, and maintained eligibility. Provides human-centered implementation recommendations such as focused support, ease of exemptions, discovery/comprehensive interview to capture compliance.

Adaptable Resources for States and Locals

Various templates for state and local governments to meet OBBBA requirements, including primers for program staff and state leadership, targeted flyers for populations (e.g. veterans, unhoused, older adults), and work requirements checklists.