[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6589738,"mediaKeyId","5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7","parentId",5479132,"title","HHS staff outline potential effects of new federal legislation on SNAP and Medicaid in North Carolina","audioSeconds",1927,"startMs",2444000,"endMs",4371000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7&start=2444&end=4371","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7/thumbnail_2444000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589738/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/HHS-staff-outline-potential-effects-of-new-federal-legislation-on-SNAP-and-Medicaid-in-North-Carolina","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589738-13923b5e92b735e146835c66009a72c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156116&Signature=VPvxT2bnFG7M37-ISGIMs-FQFLHYHh26bazjGq1IZAeAQelbFllmfQM94yjY2VQi714tLv~9gLtEexoBfJETGiRf~AWoxcNr7t~T39fPiWCy8WETuuRnfKqy3GIPvR~BxOLi4Y8kr5E~4QRA~xERPWLKFvOMv4yI8LI6YEa76Tf3T2DGKfHASyCiY3DjUAOrMgDU9D5RyyFCC8hwNPDMZgeAvYqWOEzUDGNUUh-RrG2qvy5wSt8oyDQbBzdlISVYdh75YqnLGc7dnuArAjkOE7PefJ08H1d7w8jDgM5HPfTaUWIhLZl2Va4jliO34v36q52xerVVxXUQBMpWJM~f4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Buncombe County, NC","date","2025-07-25T16:31:06Z","article","Bill (HHS staff) briefed the board on a recently enacted federal bill that, according to his presentation, contains many provisions that will affect SNAP (food assistance) and Medicaid but leaves significant implementation details unresolved.

On SNAP, staff said the bill expands work requirements for able‑bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs), narrows exemptions (homelessness would no longer be an automatic exemption), raises certain age thresholds for applicability, and requires verification of work or community service before benefits are approved. The presentation noted that administrative cost sharing will shift in October such that the federal share falls: staff described administration moving from a 50/50 federal/county match toward a model where federal support is reduced to 25% with the county or state covering the remainder. The presenter said that counties should expect higher administrative burden and lower federal reimbursement while facing possible reductions in caseload because of the new requirements.

County‑level estimates shared in the briefing included an estimated 1,800 Buncombe County individuals/cases who could lose SNAP benefits under the work‑requirement change. At the state level staff cited an estimate that about 9,000 adults in North Carolina could lose SNAP benefits. The presenter also discussed a projected $65 million annual increase in counties' administrative share statewide and up to $420 million annually in state/county benefit cost‑share exposure under certain error‑rate scenarios, noting that federal rules tie cost‑share adjustments to state error rates in program administration.

On Medicaid, the presenter described proposed new work requirements and more restrictive screening and documentation, reductions in retroactive coverage (from three months to two months generally and one month for expansion adults), changes to provider taxes and state‑directed payments, and more frequent recertification (moving from 12 months to six months). He flagged large projected impacts: the presentation cited an estimate that roughly 260,000 North Carolinians could lose Medicaid coverage under the new regime and said Buncombe County currently has more than 17,000 expansion cases on record. The presenter warned these changes could put pressure on hospitals and providers that rely on current Medicaid payment structures.

Presenters emphasized the many unknowns: final impacts will depend on forthcoming federal rule‑making (federal guidance expected in mid‑2026), how the North Carolina General Assembly chooses to allocate state funds or change state policy, and the state's administrative error rate (which affects federal cost‑share calculations). Board members were urged to consider advocacy directed to the state legislature and to monitor rule‑making and budget decisions closely. The briefing included a note that federal rule‑making contains a public comment period on proposed regulations (including proposals to verify immigration status for some federally funded services) and staff asked board members to consider submitting comments as individuals.

No board vote was requested; the presentation was informational and intended to flag areas for policy review and potential advocacy at the state level.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buncombe County Health and Human Services Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A Buncombe County HHS briefing flagged major unknowns in implementing recent federal legislation, including expanded SNAP work requirements, reduced federal administrative and benefit cost shares, and new Medicaid work requirements and payment changes that could affect enrollment and county budgets.","taxTitle","Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3914,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589743,"Buncombe County HHS reports doubling of harm reduction program visits, expands outreach and peer case management",2014,501000,2515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7&start=501&end=2515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7/thumbnail_501000.jpg","/articles/6589743/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Buncombe-County-HHS-reports-doubling-of-harm-reduction-program-visits-expands-outreach-and-peer-case-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589743-c8b0a06289cea50a386bbf86398935b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156116&Signature=o~gbNniAdB6bLeiIxTSXSh0ctg~JS4tDKonR4H-W2MumLbxEhzSd-1~X7iG8oq3m4MucaqjCLV15ukTr803njFTN-LlulPMk1ChUdbTWJINgCm3kTftlPWNmM3sw1l-7YcU3ePYV~1zyff~J8-YdjpQBD-WbP9v7tzoI3DCKry77lYCUwHAISSLdMbTfiMil5tggCvs1q2xRdEKFT1TXLb~UlSEyk062hl8WMxMPT70bvaDuh9xis7szjnUwNtL84ruFEumfoLyGe4v1hqdgkzlCMIrBIXobcABaloXkkgieM-dqwgxe7A5NLvKR4U7Sv10~L1IYYMCdxKTP8xCziA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mitch Albers, an HHS staff member, updated the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services Board on the county’s harm reduction program during the board’s presentations and updates.

Albers said the program is formally rebranding from a syringe service program (SSP) to a “harm reduction program” to reduce stigma and to encompass expanded services. He reported two multiyear contracts supported by a grant from Dogwood Health Trust: one funds a dedicated peer support case manager (provided through Sunrise Community) who had taken about 61 cases since starting in February, and the other supports outreach and education targeted to Hispanic community partners in collaboration with UNITE. Albers said the UNITE partnership has reached about 215 adults with training, including Narcan (naloxone) training in Spanish.

Albers provided program statistics for the past year: more than 12,900 participant visits, more than 2,700 unique participants, about 1,300 new participants, and 474 participant‑reported overdose reversals. He told the board the program distributed roughly 4,500 naloxone kits (staff estimate) and that participant volume rose by about 103% over the prior year. Albers said the program shifted toward offering alternatives to injection (so‑called safer‑use supplies and safer‑smoking options); about half of visits no longer resulted in syringe distribution, compared with a prior era when approximately 13% of visits did not result in a syringe distribution. He described that shift as reducing syringe waste in the community and producing cost savings that helped the program remain budget neutral despite the rise in encounters.

Disposal and community accessibility were highlighted: Albers said the program has distributed over 1,300 individual syringe disposal options to participants (from pocket cases to two‑gallon containers) and that disposal kiosks installed in collaboration with the City of Asheville bring in “a few thousand” returns per month. He said HHS added at least one kiosk at an AHOPE location and planned another near State Street (near Piscaview, per presentation) pending memoranda of understanding with partners.

Albers described additional services and partnerships: a dedicated case manager has completed 61 intakes and about 664 one‑on‑one peer engagements; staff linked 28 participants to STI testing, 43 to substance‑use treatment and 21 to mental health treatment, and arranged nearly 200 social‑determinants supports (housing entry fees, medication costs, transit). He said some opioid settlement funds were used for immediate supports.

On substances in the local supply, Albers said HHS began submitting samples to UNC Chapel Hill’s drug lab and to independent surveillance sites (StreetCheck). He reported common adulterants and emergent contaminants in submitted samples: xylazine and medetomidine (veterinary sedatives), BIS (an industrial plasticizer), and 4‑ANPP (a fentanyl precursor). He told the board that naloxone reverses opioid effects but does not reverse sedatives such as xylazine or medetomidine; supportive medical care is required for sedative exposures. Albers said in submitted samples the program often finds nine to 13 different substances mixed together, underscoring the need for testing and informed‑use practices.

Albers told the board the program is piloting safer‑smoking supplies and community trainings and that staff are pursuing grant opportunities to obtain in‑the‑moment testing technology (current lab tests take about one week to return results). He closed with two participant success stories — individuals linked to treatment and housing — and invited board members and community organizations to request trainings and supplies; he said the program operates a low‑barrier, walk‑in service (lower level of the HHS building, noon–4 p.m.) and can provide anonymous help and case management when participants opt in.

No board action or vote was taken on the program update; the item was presented for information and future discussion.","HHS staff told the board the county’s harm reduction program has rebranded from a syringe service program, added a peer support case manager via a Dogwood Health Trust grant, expanded Spanish-language outreach with UNITE and reported a 103% year‑over‑year increase in participant volume.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589748,"Buncombe County HHS board approves meeting agenda and accepts June minutes with correction",142,18000,160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7&start=18&end=160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5479132-ffa32c290378588151d358e503e01bb7/thumbnail_18000.jpg","/articles/6589748/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Buncombe-County-HHS-board-approves-meeting-agenda-and-accepts-June-minutes-with-correction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589748-80cd5a67d1709351d1cdca86f4112c84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156116&Signature=QrGx~V9bAKZwPzJFCVnYoMgEibd5Y57DulBZX92rJlTW7DqBoVxRD-gdTWbsRVNpgShMBYaPtE46YPAK5BPm1B-cASLNMeOQAxii7hWjpI0HFw1oMbsD7UF3RWK25ckbD25ALl4xrdhTzcL0-9JwowImFOF7UgcPztHI3ZfmdLWGhiCn8O0a5BQi9lD9KDMHXLO0NLOtf0b47JiLBzogIDV0iQOA50SyP51~LnVVCOT-J~ZUln2CUQiBt8xVQkz4uCSMp5mmMcXD18XsyKvlB0M93Arntl6u6Xhu-gQJj0qyJA0A~D9f2T1hHWHyjBijGYqyUX~lWZqWADXZN3lXhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Board opened its meeting by approving the agenda and then approved the board’s June minutes after one correction was offered.

Board members approved the agenda by voice vote early in the meeting. Later, members discussed a correction to the June minutes: a line that showed a board member present in one spot but noted they left earlier in the proceedings. The board instructed staff to correct the minutes to reflect that the member had left during the earlier portion of the meeting, and then approved the minutes as amended.

No roll-call tallies or mover/second names were recorded in the meeting transcript for either action. Both items were handled as routine procedural matters; no further debate or formal amendments were recorded.

The approved agenda guided the remainder of the meeting, which included presentations and updates from HHS staff and a longer briefing on new federal legislation affecting SNAP and Medicaid.","At its June meeting the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services Board approved the meeting agenda and approved its June minutes with a correction noting a member’s early departure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

HHS staff outline potential effects of new federal legislation on SNAP and Medicaid in North Carolina

Buncombe County HHS reports doubling of harm reduction program visits, expands outreach and peer case management

Buncombe County HHS board approves meeting agenda and accepts June minutes with correction