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Senior Project Fresh shifts to online enrollment, benefit card to mail in May
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Summary
The COA executive director reported that Senior Project Fresh will move to an online application and mailed benefit card through vendor Healthy Together, scheduled to go live May 1, 2025; the change eliminates paper coupons and allows flexible spending amounts. The committee noted the change during its April 21 meeting.
The COA executive director reported that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services–facilitated Senior Project Fresh program will move in 2025 from a paper-based coupon system to an electronic application and benefit card managed by vendor Healthy Together. The new system is scheduled to go live May 1, 2025; once applications are approved participants will receive a mailed benefit card rather than a coupon book. The executive director said the card will allow beneficiaries to spend their Senior Project Fresh benefit in any dollar amount instead of using fixed-denomination coupons.
The change is intended to simplify enrollment and reduce trips to lead-agency locations: the executive director noted older adults will no longer need to visit a lead agency to complete an application or pick up coupon books. The committee was also told that budget season has begun and that program funding and administrative costs will be reviewed as part of that process.
The executive director said she plans to increase on-site time at senior centers, visiting each center more frequently and traveling to Beaver Island up to four times a year to support local implementation.