HJNO Jan/Feb 2025

52 JAN / FEB 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS MEDICAID COLUMN MEDICAID THE INTRODUCTION of stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutri- tion Assistance Program (SNAP) in Lou- isiana carries immediate and long-term implications for those who already face significant food insecurity. While work requirements for SNAP recipients went into effect in October 2023, new require- ments took effect on Oct. 1, 2024, which affect more individuals who are impacted by work requirements and can potential- ly add undue administrative burden to the agencies charged with oversight of this program. Under the Fiscal Responsibili- ty Act, enrollees classified as able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD), aged 18 to 54 years, must meet one of the fol- lowing requirements: • Work in a job (for pay or as a volun- teer) for at least 80 hours per month. • Participate in a SNAP Employment and Training program (such as Loui- siana’s SET for Success) for at least 80 hours a month. • Work and/or participate in any com- bination of the above for a total of at least 80 hours per month. Failure to meet any one of the require- ments means the individual will lose their benefits after three months. These chang- es impact approximately 20,000 or 2.4% of Louisiana’s SNAP beneficiaries. Many recipients, already balancing the complex- ities of low-wage employment, housing instability, and transportation challenges, rely on SNAP benefits to maintain a basic level of nutrition. The imposition of stricter work require- ments creates new hurdles that risk re- moving a crucial safety net, pushing more individuals and families into hunger. Un- der SB195 by Senator Sharon Hewitt, there is no opportunity for state officials (DCFS) to request waivers of federal work require- ments in parishes with high unemploy- ment. The resulting strain is felt not only by the recipients themselves, but also by the community agencies and nonprofits work- ing tirelessly to address these ongoing struggles. And the repercussions extend further, affecting overall health outcomes among vulnerable populations, including those served under Medicaid, who require stable access to both nutrition and health- care services. Many SNAP recipients live in an envi- ronment where stable employment op- portunities are scarce, wages are insuffi- cient to cover basic needs, and job markets do not match their skills or circumstances. Imposing additional work mandates, espe- cially when support services such as train- ing, childcare, and reliable transportation are limited, can lead to abrupt coverage losses for individuals who cannot quickly satisfy the requirements. When recipients lose these benefits, they must suddenly scramble to secure al- ternative sources of food. Some may rely on family or friends when possible, but of- ten the burden falls to local food non-gov- ernmental organizations like Second Har- vest Food Bank or Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana; soup kitchens like Ms. Helen’s Soup Kitchen and Community Soup Kitch- en of Monroe; religious organizations like Grace Place Ministries and Missionaries of Charity; and nonprofits such as Louisiana Anti Hunger Coalition and No Kid Hungry Louisiana. These organizations are dedi- cated to bridging the gaps, yet even before the stricter work requirements were intro- duced, they were already contending with soaring demand and constrained resourc- es. As more people lose SNAP benefits, the pressure on these community safety nets intensifies, leading to longer wait times, THE BENEFITSOF SNAP BENEFITS: The Importance of Mitigating Food Insecurity