Latest news with #AmericanRescuePlanActof2021
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State's food banks pan $5 million legislative proposal to tell people where food is
() The state's food banks are wary of legislation that seeks to allocate $5 million for a program proponents say is designed to reduce food insecurity and waste. 'Until there is more data to demonstrate that this concept will increase access to food for our most vulnerable neighbors, we are concerned that this approach could disrupt an established, high-performing food rescue system,' Beth Martino, the CEO of Three Square wrote in a March 27 letter opposing the proposal. Assembly Bill 476, which is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Saturday morning, would require the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to create a 'Smart Surplus Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.' The program would seek to reduce food waste via technology by directing SNAP recipients to areas with a surplus of food where they can also get discounted rates. The legislation would allocate $5 million to administer the program. Between potential for major federal cuts and the state's shaky economic outlook, the fate of many bills that require new or additional spending remains uncertain. A Connecticut company founded by Priceline, r4 Technologies, has been used to develop the program elsewhere. The legislation 'proposes allocation for the development of AI to help grocers better assess needs,' said Jason Frierson, a former Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly and Nevada U.S. Attorney who is now a lobbyist with Cornerstone Government Affairs, which represents r4 Technologies. 'It allows the grocers to sell more food and helps to decrease waste so there is less food going to places that aren't being purchased. It also helps SNAP recipients get a better bang for their buck,' Frierson said. The company's program was launched for the first time last year in Delaware, funded by $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Three Square Food Bank, which provides assistance in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye counties, as well as the Food Bank of Northern Nevada opposed the legislation. Shane Piccinini, the government relations director for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, wrote in his opposition testimony in March that he didn't understand how the legislation would improve access. 'Many Nevadans facing food insecurity, particularly seniors, struggle to reach grocery stores—even when food is offered at discounted prices,' he wrote. 'Our research shows that transportation is a major obstacle to accessing food, which is why many of our neighbors rely on local food pantries or direct delivery services provided by nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.' AB 476 was first heard by the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee in March and hasn't received a vote yet. It is exempt from all deadlines. Since that March hearing, U.S. House Republicans passed a massive budget reconciliation bill that is now headed for the U.S. Senate — Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' — that slashes Medicaid, food assistance and other programs. Also since the bill's hearing in March, the body charged with making state revenue estimates that legislative budgeting can't exceed revised those estimates downward, citing projected negative impacts on Nevada's economy largely as a result of Trump's trade war. Democratic Assemblymember Tracy Brown May in the March hearing raised concern that deep cuts to federal assistance programs – only proposed at the time – would limit the availability of the service described in the bill. The legislation is sponsored by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Democratic Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who chairs the committee, said those currently eligible for SNAP benefits would be eligible to use the r4 Technologies application, but acknowledged that could change with shifts in federal policy. 'I wish I had a crystal ball and could say that any changes would not impact this program,' said Monroe-Moreno, who also chairs the Nevada State Democratic Party. 'I can't sit here and say that at this moment.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical debts erased for 310,000 residents of Orange County
Thousands of Orange County residents saddled with medical debts have been granted a 'no-strings-attached gift,' according to a national nonprofit that partnered with the county to forgive bills totaling about $472.5 million. Over 310,000 people received notice in the past two weeks that a medical debt of theirs had been cancelled, officials said. 'For our family, it represents hope that the majority of Orange County Florida commissioners are truly listening [and] getting funds to those most impacted by poverty,' Eimear Roy, 57, said in a text to the Orlando Sentinel. Her canceled debt was modest, $200, but appreciated and enough to cover a monthly utility bill, she said. Roy was among a group of community advocates who appealed to commissioners several times over the last 18 months to help citizens with medical debt by using leftover funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The federal relief package, also known as ARPA, was intended to help individuals, families and businesses cope with economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Orange County received $270.7 million in ARPA funding. A Florida first: Orange County hopes to erase medical debt for thousands Commissioners approved a $4.5 million contract last August with Undue Medical Debt, formerly known as R.I.P. Medical Debt, a nonprofit that buys qualifying medical debt in bulk at a fraction of its face value and wipes it out. The letter to recipients was intended to 'share the good news' of their debt cancellation. 'You no longer have any obligation to pay this debt to anyone, at any future time,' it read. 'No income taxes are owed because this debt has been canceled by Undue Medical Debt using funds provided by Orange County Government FL.' The letter reminds recipients they may still owe other medical bills. But the nonprofit's website also warns visitors of phishing scams or cybercriminals who may use similar web addresses to trick recipients and donors into providing conidential personal and financial information for fraudulent purposes. The county also set up a web page, to provide answers to frequently asked questions. Orange County joined a growing list of places with similar debt forgiveness programs, including the state of Arizona; Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles County, California; New York City; New Orleans; and Washington, D.C. Undue Medical Debt did not accept individual applications for relief but identified eligible debtors through partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers and debt collection agencies. The average debt erased was $1,728. Many recipients were surprised to learn of the debt cancellation. Some thought the letter was a scam. Editorial: Medical debt isn't going away, so don't artificially erase it A post on Reddit, an online forum, asked fellow users of the social media platform if anyone else had gotten a letter regarding medical debts. She thought the notice was from debt collectors chasing payment for old bills for ER visits for her two sons, 'but it was actually a letter from Orange County saying they PAID my over $2500 debt!! Wow…' Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who voted for the debt-relief contract, said the agreement has been impactful. 'Amid our economic uncertainties, I'm happy thousands of our residents are getting some relief,' she said. Guidelines required beneficiaries to have medical debt exceeding 5% of their annual income or live in a household with an income below 400% of the federal poverty level. For a single-person household, that's $62,600 or less and $106,600 or less for a household of three. 'This program is the latest countywide effort to improve the quality of life for our residents,' Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said. 'This collaboration with Undue Medical Debt has allowed our Board to efficiently maximize the impact of public funds, helping as many individuals as possible to become financially stable.' The canceled debts were typically owed to a doctor's office, a hospital or a collection agency. Matthew Grocholske, 22, who also had pleaded with the county for medical-debt relief, was not among the lucky thousands who had debt canceled. 'Unfortunately, no,' he said. 'But some people who definitely needed it got it.' Medical debt remains a persistent problem in the U.S. though 90 percent of Americans have some type of health insurance, according to a report from the health care research group, KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Two in five Americans have medical debt, nearly half of whom owe at least $2,500, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Unpaid medical debt, especially if sent to collection, has historically harmed a debtor's credit score, making it harder and more costly to qualify for a mortgage loan, car loan or personal loan. shudak@
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
100s of Coloradans could be back on the streets with end of housing voucher program
Gary Jackson rests in bed at a former La Quinta Inn on Park Avenue in Denver, June 12, 2022. He lived at the hotel during the spring of 2022 after receiving an emergency housing voucher due to his vulnerability to COVID-19 while managing congestive heart failure. (Giles Clasen for Colorado Newsline) Gary Jackson's most recent spell of homelessness happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being released from a more than 12-year prison sentence, his son died. He then lived unsheltered for a couple of years before his heart began to fail, which Jackson says is a direct result of his homelessness. These challenges made Jackson a perfect candidate for the federal Emergency Housing Voucher program. EHVs were created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide housing for the chronically homeless; people fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking or sexual assault; and families facing housing instability. About 70,000 EHVs were distributed to public housing authorities across the nation. Jackson's EHV helped him get a room at the La Quinta hotel at Interstate 25 and Park Avenue in Denver while he received medical treatments for his heart condition. The EHV gave him enough stability to receive a Section 8 voucher that he's used to rent an apartment of his own for more than a year. 'I got the Holy Grail of housing vouchers, apparently,' Jackson said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jackson is one of a handful of EHV holders who have successfully transitioned to more stable housing. However, there are hundreds more EHV holders in Colorado facing the possibility of being sent back to the streets. In March, the Colorado Division of Housing received a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development saying that the EHV program is expected to run out of money by the end of 2026, four years earlier than originally expected. Part of the reason for the lack of funding for the program is the national spike in rent costs. Median rents across the U.S. stood at $1,781 per month at the end of 2021, according to Those rents peaked in July 2022 at around $1,850 per month, though they have steadily fallen to $1,694 as of March 2025. Should the funding for this program end, many participants will go back to the dangerous living situations they were in. – Shannon Gray, spokesperson for the Colorado Division of Housing At the same time, the Trump administration has made it clear that it does not intend to continue funding the program. 'While these EHV funds are being obligated to your PHA, you should manage your EHV program with the expectation that no additional funding from HUD will be forthcoming,' the letter DOH received says. Colorado received 996 EHVs, which it then distributed to 12 public housing agencies across the state. Those public housing agencies were primarily located in Front Range counties like Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, and Adams. Cities like Fort Collins, Aurora, Colorado Springs and Littleton also received vouchers. Altogether, nearly 1,200 households benefitted from EHVs, according to federal data. There are 892 EHV units still leased, DOH spokesperson Shannon Gray told Colorado Newsline in an email. 'We are concerned about the implications of non-renewal of the funding for all (EHV) participants in Colorado,' Gray said. 'Should the funding for this program end, many participants will go back to the dangerous living situations they were in.' For public housing officials, the anticipated end of the EHV program has become a significant cause for concern. Peter LiFari, CEO of Maiker Housing Partners in Adams County, told Colorado Newsline that there is a 'mad frenzy' of communication and collaboration among public housing authorities in Colorado to figure out contingency plans for the remaining EHV holders. Those contingency plans are complicated as Colorado leaders have already had to navigate a $1.2 billion state budget shortfall, and federal support remains uncertain. Meanwhile, advocates at the National Low Income Housing Coalition expect the Trump administration to significantly overhaul the Housing Choice Voucher program and reduce the number of available vouchers by around 200,000 in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as Section 8 vouchers, are the most common voucher available to people experiencing homelessness. One change LiFari expects the Trump administration to push for is adding work requirements to the HCV program. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said after his confirmation that the agency should work to 'increase self-sufficiency and empower Americans to climb the economic ladder toward a brighter future.' A 2022 federal review of work requirement policies found that they can increase part-time employment, but the impact of the policies to 'reach a level that enables self-sufficiency remains unclear.' 'This is an appetizer from the administration to move the Overton window on work,' LiFari said. Cathy Alderman, spokesperson for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, told Colorado Newsline that many of the EHV holders don't have other housing options. 'They can't just find another affordable place,' Alderman said. 'It's not likely that they have a great deal of resources saved up to move them into a market-rate unit that doesn't accept vouchers, which is going to ultimately put a lot of people into the cycle of homelessness at a time when homelessness is already on the rise.' Over the last year, homelessness in Colorado increased by more than 29% to more than 18,700 people, according to federal data. Subpopulations like families with children saw an even more significant increase in homelessness, rising 134% compared to 2023. Moving people from an EHV to a more permanent housing voucher is also a complicated process, Alderman added. About 20% of the people who qualify for a housing voucher receive one for various reasons. The number of available vouchers fluctuates every year. There are also waitlists for people to apply for housing vouchers. The program also relies on landlords who accept housing vouchers, which can be inconsistent. The Coalition has units it owns that can be used to provide housing for people who lose their EHV, but Alderman said there are not enough housing units to help the nearly 900 people who could be impacted. 'There's no affordable housing for people to move into,' Alderman said. 'It's why we have the homeless crisis that we have.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medical debt totaling more than $472.5 million eliminated, Orange County announces
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Thanks to its collaboration with Undue Medical Debt, medical debt exceeding $472.5 million has been erased for over 310,000 residents of Orange County. This debt relief encompasses accounts obtained from local hospital systems as well as third-party debt collection agencies. This wonderful investment, made possible by the County's allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, enables Undue Medical Debt to thoughtfully analyze and purchase qualifying medical debt for just a fraction of its face value. 'This program is the latest countywide effort to improve the quality of life for our residents,' said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. Approximately $3 million has been used from the program's budget. Demings continues, 'This collaboration with Undue Medical Debt has allowed our Board to efficiently maximize the impact of public funds, helping as many individuals as possible to become financially stable.' It is essential to know that the program does not accept applications. Qualifying debt from an Orange County resident meets one of two criteria: Resides in a household with income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines Has medical debt that equals or exceeds 5% of their total household income Once the debt is acquired, it is fully settled, requiring no further action from the impacted residents. Recipients will receive an official letter from Undue Medical Debt confirming the relief, which will begin arriving this week. 'We look forward to continuing our mission in partnership with Orange County,' said Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children impacted as asthma inhaler removed from market
More children stopped using steroid inhalers to control their asthma after a manufacturer discontinued a popular inhaler, a new study says. In 2024, GlaxoSmithKline withdrew Flovent from the market. The inhaler was commonly prescribed to prevent asthma attacks in children. The pharma company continued to sell a chemically identical "authorized generic," but some families reportedly had trouble getting this drug because their insurance either didn't cover it or required higher out-of-pocket costs, researchers reported April 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. As a result, children were 6 percentage points more likely to have no steroid inhaler in hand to prevent an asthma attack, results show. Asthma inhaler access dropped from nearly 41% to nearly 35% between 2021 and 2023 among patients 18 and younger prescribed Flovent (fluticasone), researchers found. By comparison, young asthma patients prescribed other inhaled steroids had about the same access to an inhaler, at a consistent level around 38%, results show. "Our findings suggest the withdrawal of Flovent disrupted inhaled steroid therapy in children, potentially increasing their risk of asthma attacks," lead researcher Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said in a news release. Researchers said Flovent was likely pulled from the market due to changes in rebates that manufacturers must pay to Medicaid programs to obtain drug coverage. Historically, these rebates were capped, but the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 eliminated this cap in January 2024, researchers said. Eliminating the cap would have resulted in rebates that exceeded Flovent's sales price because GSK had previously increased the drug's price rapidly, researchers said. That exposed them to a rebate that applies when increases in a drug's price outpaces inflation. "Our findings suggest that the elimination of the Medicaid rebate cap had unintended consequences for children with asthma," Chua said. He noted that other drugs also have triggered the rebate cap, including meds for diabetes and infections. "If other brand name drugs are withdrawn due to elimination of the rebate cap, policymakers should proactively implement interventions to prevent therapy disruptions, such as ensuring insurer coverage of alternative drugs," Chua said. More information KFF has more on the elimination of the Medicaid prescription drug rebate cap. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
