Salem-area residents on the Oregon Health Plan who struggle with food insecurity and chronic illness can now access free groceries.
The Oregon Health Authority rolled out a fruit-and-vegetable benefit and a pantry-stocking benefit for eligible OHP members statewide on July 1. Qualifying members can receive up to six months of support, delivered either as grocery box shipments or a preloaded card accepted at participating stores.
"These nutrition benefits give providers another important tool to help people stay healthy," OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi said. "When people have reliable access to nutritious food, they can better manage their health — which reduces emergency visits, lowers hospital readmissions, and helps bring down medical spending overall."
Who qualifies
Members must meet all three criteria:
- A qualifying health condition, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or a complex behavioral health need
- A qualifying life situation, such as recent discharge from incarceration or treatment, pregnancy, risk of homelessness, or enrollment in Young Adult with Special Health Care Needs benefits
- Low or very low food security
The fruit-and-vegetable benefit covers fresh, frozen, canned, or packaged produce, including items like applesauce. The pantry-stocking benefit includes meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, cooking oils, and spices.
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the benefits under Oregon's 1115 OHP Demonstration Waiver, which remains in effect through September 30, 2027.
The same waiver authorizes housing benefits and extreme-weather devices such as air conditioners and air filters for eligible members.
OHA worked with Oregon's 15 coordinated care organizations and nutrition providers to prepare for the launch, using member feedback to simplify eligibility requirements and authorization processes, according to the agency.
More than half of members who have received other Health-Related Social Needs benefits, such as housing support, report having one or more disabilities, compared with 24 percent of the overall OHP population, according to OHA.
In Marion and Polk counties, PacificSource Community Solutions serves as the coordinated care organization for OHP members. Salem-area residents enrolled through PacificSource can contact the plan at 800-431-4135 or visit PacificSource.com/Medicaid to ask about the new nutrition benefits.
OHP members enrolled in any CCO can also find request forms on OHA's HRSN Nutrition web page. Open Card members can contact Acentra at 1-888-834-4304 or email [email protected]. For general questions, members can call OHP Client Services at 1-800-273-0557.
About 1.4 million Oregonians receive coverage through OHP statewide. The Oregon Department of Human Services also maintains a Food Resources page at oregon.gov/odhs/food for people who may not qualify for the new benefits or who need immediate food support.
