HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 7, 2022) --- Recognizing the epidemic that hunger has become across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week passed a draft spending plan that includes dramatic increases in the state’s food assistance programs. Under the House’s proposed budget, funding for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) would increase by more than $4 million to $24.1 million. Funding for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) would nearly double, from $4.5 million to $7.5 million. SFPP remains a lifeline for food banks across Pennsylvania, helping all 67 ..read more

June 1, 2023 Written By: Jessica Bautista view original post Gov. Josh Shapiro, Tracey Specter kicked off the nonprofit’s first-ever capital campaign with an event at Share’s Philadelphia headquarters. Today, the first day of National Hunger Awareness Month, Share Food Program announced its first-ever capital campaign, The Campaign for Food Justice, a $35 million effort to revolutionize the future of food security and the nonprofit’s ability to combat the persistent and growing rates of hunger in the Greater Philadelphia region. Gov. Josh Shapiro joined Board Chair and Campaign Co-Chair Trace ..read more

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Published MAR 21, 2023 The abrupt ending of pandemic-era emergency increases to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will affect nearly 2 million people in Pennsylvania. Roughly 60% of those households have children, and more than half include older people or adults with disabilities. Minimum losses, effective March 1, to those families in SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, are $95 a month. But the statewide average loss exceeds $180 a month — a big hit to already struggling families. State and federal governments can at l ..read more

HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 7, 2022) --- Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2023-24 General Fund budget holds the line on funding for two of the state’s most important anti-hunger programs, while trying to address the hunger cliff Pennsylvania faces with the recent elimination of pandemic-era emergency payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Shapiro’s budget keeps funding level for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS). The PASS appropriation of $4.5 million is fully included within the SFPP line item, which totals $24.688 ..read more

03/06/2023 Philadelphia, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Val Arkoosh today joined leadership from Philabundance to highlight significant federal changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will result in a reduction of benefits for all SNAP recipients this month. At today’s event, Acting Secretary Arkoosh addressed how important it is for Pennsylvanians to support their local food banks and pantries as the statewide systems works to help people affected by this change. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which ..read more

Food organizations gear up to meet increased needs after SNAP benefits end ⛔ Pandemic-era emergency payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, ended on Feb. 28, meaning the state will receive $200 million less in federal food assistance benefits each month. Help is available! Please see the information on food assistance resources from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Recent News Coverage: abc27 News -- Nearly 2M Pennsylvanians will be impacted by SNAP benefits changes: https://youtu.be/m39nUzYPDHU 6abc Philadelphia -- Pandemic-era food stamps end M ..read more

The decrease will affect 41.5 million Americans, including 1.8 million Pennsylvanians, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Published: 3:50 PM EST Feb 10, 2023 | Updated: 3:50 PM EST Feb 10, 2023 HARRISBURG, Pa. — A “hunger cliff” is looming for millions of Americans on food stamps in March, when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will shrink nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government passed an emergency increase in SNAP benefits. Most recipients received about $95 more per month for the last three years. The added benefit will ..read more

BRAD BUMSTED | Harrisburg Bureau | Published: Jan 2, 2023 For decades, pedestrians and motorists on Harrisburg’s West Shore have likely seen the running man. Rain or shine, he pounds the pavement, often bare chested. Over the last 18,000 days – nearly 50 years total – Tom Snedden failed to run on only 400. He’s run in both the New York City and Boston marathons, two marquee events for which runners must qualify in advance by hitting benchmark times for their age. Snedden, director of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly, is also a marathoner in state government ..read more

Alliance calls on CMS to adopt a comprehensive approach to Medicare Advantage audits, including auditing every plan every year and applying future audit changes prospectively Washington, D.C. – As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) prepares to issue Medicare Advantage rulemaking for 2024 and beyond, Better Medicare Alliance unveiled a groundbreaking set of recommendations designed to build upon the success of Medicare Advantage and improve the value of the program for seniors. “Sustaining and Strengthening Medicare Advantage: Policy Recommendations to Maintain Accountabili ..read more