Health Care — When will SNAP benefits be delivered?

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View Online Health Care Health Care The Big Story  SNAP could remain delayed even after shutdown ends With the House expected to vote to reopen the federal government imminently, full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could start flowing to states soon. © The Associated Press But delays are on the horizon, and stakeholders will need time to recover from the damage that's already been done.    At first the United States Department of Agriculture said it would use emergency funding to cover benefits during a shutdown.   Then the Trump administration changed course as a way to pressure Democrats into ending the shutdown, saying no benefits would go out in November. That set off a chaotic series of events, with some people getting partial benefits, others getting nothing, and conflicting court decisions.   States and food banks have had to watch for and react to every court order as they contend with the unprecedented lapse in crucial food assistance.  As of this week, the Supreme Court ruled to allow SNAP benefits to stay paused until at least Thursday.  "The disruption to SNAP benefits has presented operational challenges and confusion for many independent grocers who support their communities through their participation in SNAP," a spokesperson for the National Grocers Association (NGA) said in a statement to The Hill.    SNAP is such a massive program that there was no feasible way for state governments to fill in the gaps, something several state leaders like Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) and Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) grimly acknowledged last week   While some states have either moved forward with full benefits for November or announced their intention to pay 100 percent of benefits, other states have followed plans to pay 65 percent of the payments, in accordance with the administration's edict.    From a technical perspective, experts have said people who received no benefits will get the delayed funds quicker because issuing full benefits is easier than recalculating and issuing partial amounts. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Hemp-derived THC drinks, edibles could soon disappear because of shutdown bill Popular THC-infused drinks and edibles may disappear from store shelves in the next year as Congress is on the verge of passing a ban on nearly all hemp-derived THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products.   Tucked into the Senate-passed government funding bill is a provision that would recriminalize many of the intoxicating hemp-derived products that were legalized by the 2018 farm bill.    The provision "prevents the unregulated …  Full Story Democrats introduce discharge petition to force vote on extension of ObamaCare subsidies House Democratic leaders introduced a discharge petition Wednesday designed to force consideration of legislation to extend expiring ObamaCare subsidies for another three years. Behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the Democrats are hoping to entice a handful of moderate Republicans to endorse the petition, which will require 218 signatures to force a floor vote on the legislation over the objections of Republican …  Full Story Whooping cough cases skyrocket to record high in Texas More than 3,500 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, have been reported in Texas so far this year, according to state figures, roughly four times the number as last year and the highest since 2013.  This is the second consecutive year that Texas is experiencing high year-over-year increases in reported pertussis cases. With about seven weeks left in the year, those numbers are likely to grow.  Whooping cough is …  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read: Leavitt says Trump 'remains in exceptional health' following MRI question White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that President Trump "remains in exceptional health" following a question about an MRI he underwent last month.  "As stated in the memo provided on Oct. 10, President Trump received advanced imaging at Walter Reed Medical Center as part of his routine physical examination," Leavitt told reporters at the White House press briefing.  Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Wisconsin hemp businesses say Senate bill banning THC products would 'decimate' the industry (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)  By the numbers: A one-week snapshot of medical marijuana sales in Florida (WUSF)  Two years ago, California allowed courts to order people into mental health treatment (NPR)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: How two top FDA officials are quietly upending vaccine regulations (Stat)  What the air you breathe may be doing to your brain (KFF Health News)  Prominent anti-abortion group announces $80 million midterm investment (Politico)  What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: The VA's disability evaluation is failing veterans Democratic Senate defections will allow Trump's huge insurance premium hikes   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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