Columbus County DSS warns federal shutdown could suspend WIC and EBT; Medicaid rebase prompts vendor rate cuts
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Summary
Columbus County Department of Social Services Director Dwelle Hall and health department staff warned the Board of Commissioners that a prolonged federal shutdown could suspend WIC and EBT benefits and that a Medicaid rebase shortfall has already forced provider-rate reductions affecting county transportation vendors.
Columbus County Department of Social Services Director Dwelle Hall and county health officials told the Board of Commissioners that a continuing federal government shutdown could force suspension of programs that serve low-income residents, including WIC and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) food benefits.
Hall said WIC funding has been extended only through the end of October by emergency USDA funds; the health department expects a three-day notice if it must suspend WIC operations. "We disperse around $1.25 to $1.5 million in WIC benefits per year," Hall said, and officials said the program would face immediate operational strain if federal funding lapses.
Hall reported that the county's crisis intervention funds (referred to as SIP) fell from $114,060 in early September to $107,246.27 in the month of September as officials provided emergency assistance.
Hall also described the local effects of a statewide Medicaid rebase shortfall the county was told exceeded $219 million. As a result, the state applied provider-rate reductions that took effect Oct. 1; Columbus County DSS reduced reimbursement to its two Medicaid transportation vendors by 3 percent. Hall said the new travel rate for Healing Hearts is $1.40 per mile (reduced from $2.00 per mile) and the new rate for First Transit is $2.60 per mile (reduced from $3.00 per mile).
Board members asked whether the county could supplement suspended EBT benefits. Multiple staff members responded that the county cannot replace federal EBT benefits: if the shutdown continues, individuals "will get no EBT benefits" for November unless the federal government restores funding. Hall said the county has 11,000 individuals associated with food‑assistance cases (approximately 6,000 active cases by case count) and that the county's role would be to inform clients and partner organizations of any suspension.
County staff said they currently employ 18 people who work on nutrition and public-assistance programs; the county normally is reimbursed for part of those positions but will be required to pay full salaries for those staff while federal funding is disrupted "with no assurance" of retroactive reimbursement. A health-department representative added that some programs can operate temporarily on the agency's unrestricted funds but warned those reserves could cover only a limited period.
Commissioners urged staff to prioritize outreach so residents understand timelines and to coordinate with food banks and community partners. Hall described fraud and program-integrity processes for food‑nutrition benefits and said the department will continue standard eligibility checks.
There was no formal board action on these briefing items; staff said they would continue monitoring federal developments, inform affected clients and report back to commissioners as conditions change.
