H. 4606: “An Act establishing the Honorable Peter V. Kocot Act to enhance access to high quality, affordable and transparent healthcare in the Commonwealth."

Please Co-sponsor Rep Livingstone’s Amendment to Close the SNAP Gap through a MassHealth “Check Off” Option!  This amendment directs EOHHS to allow MassHealth and Medicare Savings Program (MSP) clients under 200% FPL to a) request a SNAP application when applying for or renewing MassHealth/MSP coverage, and b) allow sharing relevant eligibility information with DTA for SNAP.

The Problem: How big is the SNAP Gap?  The SNAP gap refers to approximately 680,000 people who are receiving Mass Health and likely eligible for SNAP, but aren’t receiving benefits.1 1,600,000 (Check out local SNAP Gap Map by city and 1,400,000 town: http://tinyurl.com/j7kudzs) 1,443,000 680,000 1,200,000  MassHealth and SNAP, as well as many other Masshealth Possible safety-net programs, have separate application 1,000,000 Recipients SNAP processes that often ask for the same basic potentially Gap information, duplicating efforts and creating 800,000 eligible for SNAP more work for the state and delays for clients. 600,000 763,000

400,000 SNAP The Solution: Recipients  Allow MassHealth and Medicare Savings 200,000

Program (MSP) recipients to minimally request 0 a SNAP application when they apply for or renew MassHealth or MSP coverage. This “checkbox” option lays the foundation for a common application portal for safety-net benefits. It increases efficiency and captures current household information for both DTA and community-based providers to target their SNAP outreach efforts.

Benefits of closing the SNAP Gap through a Check Off” option:  Helps increase access to 100% federally-funded nutrition dollars for low income Massachusetts households - including approximately 220,000 children under age 19 and 100K older adults.  Boosts automatic “direct” certification for children for free school meals (SNAP = free school meals) and helps school districts improve their “economically disadvantaged” numbers for Chapter 70 funding and possibly “community eligibility” (universal free school meals).  Could generate $1.5 billion or more in economic stimulus to the state and local economy.

Reps can sign onto the Livingstone Amendment by contacting aide Caitlin Duffy: [email protected]

More information: Pat Baker, [email protected] 617-357-0700 x 328

1 Data: April 2017 DTA data confirms a “SNAP gap” of nearly 700K individual under 150% FPLs, including 228K children, over 100K parents and 106K older adults. House Members who’ve supported closing the SNAP Gap:

The following State Reps (including long-time, beloved Northampton Rep Kocot), co-sponsored the original SNAP Gap/Common app legislation, House Bill 101 filed in January 2017 - An Act Improving Public Health Through a Common Application for Core Food, Health and Safety Net Programs. H.101 (and S.612) received a FAVORABLE from the Health Care Financing Committee on May 29, 2018.

Please contact these House members, thank them for co-sponsoring the original bill, H.10 and urge them to co- sponsor Rep Livingstone’s Amendment to H.4606, the Peter V. Kocut Act.

James Arciero Daniel J. Hunt Brian M. Ashe Jay R. Kaufman Ruth B. Balser Mary S. Keefe Christine P. Barber Jennifer E. Benson Peter V. Kocot Antonio F. D. Cabral Robert M. Koczera Stephen Kulik Thomas J. Calter Jack Lewis James M. Cantwell Marc T. Lombardo Gailanne M. Cariddi Evandro C. Carvalho John J. Mahoney Elizabeth A. Malia Paul W. Mark Nick Collins Juana Matias Mike Connolly Paul McMurtry Edward F. Coppinger James R. Miceli Brendan P. Crighton Daniel Cullinane Frank A. Moran Josh S. Cutler David M. Nangle Michael S. Day James J. O'Day Marjorie C. Decker William Smitty Pignatelli Diana DiZoglio Daniel M. Donahue Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. Paul J. Donato David M.Rogers Michelle M. DuBois Daniel J.Ryan Carolyn C. Dykema Paul A. Schmid, III Lori A. Ehrlich John W. Scibak Tricia Farley-Bouvier Frank I. Smizik Ann-Margaret Ferrante Todd M. Smola Michael J. Finn William M. Straus William C. Galvin Jose F. Tosado Carmine L. Gentile Chynah Tyler Solomon Goldstein-Rose Carlos Gonzalez Kenneth I. Gordon John C. Velis Danielle W. Gregoire Chris Walsh Jonathan Hecht Susannah M. Whipps Paul R. Heroux Bud Williams Jonathan D. Zlotnik Bradford R. Hill Kevin G. Honan Fact Sheet: June 2018