Some Virginia SNAP recipients can use their EBT cards at restaurants

Some Virginia SNAP recipients can now use their benefits at certain local restaurants.
State of play: The Virginia Department of Social Services recently launched its Virginia Restaurant Meals Program, which it describes as a "tremendous step towards fighting food insecurity" for residents that struggle to make hot meals at home.
Eligible SNAP households are those that are 60 or older, permanently disabled, experiencing homelessness, or the spouse of an elderly or disabled SNAP recipient.
How it works: The program allows some Virginians who use SNAP, formerly food stamps, to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at participating restaurants, the same way they would at a grocery store.
Diners aren't charged tax or tip.
Just over a dozen Richmond-area restaurants are part of the program.
They include Carytown Gyro, The Beet Box, Touché Pies and Fries, Best Wings & Tacos, Kokonut Grill, and some KFC and McDonald's locations.
What we're watching: The state will review how effective the program was by the end of the year, 13NewsNow reported.

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CBS News

a day ago

• CBS News

Murkowski says she has been "pretty clear" about her concerns with Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she has been "pretty clear" about her concerns over potential cuts President Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill" would make to Medicaid and food benefits for her constituents in Alaska. In an interview for "CBS Sunday Morning," Murkowski told CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell that she hasn't given any absolute deal-breakers in the Senate legislation — but she's voiced her reservations about the Medicaid proposals. "I have not given anybody in the administration an absolute, this is my red line, right?" Because I think it's important that every step of the way, I communicate where my concerns are," Murkowski told O'Donnell in the interview airing this weekend. The reconciliation bill — or "one big, beautiful bill," as Mr. Trump and Republicans in Congress have dubbed it — has passed the House, but remains up for debate in the Senate, where some Republicans are pushing for deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House-passed version allows. Medicaid is the entitlement program that offers government-backed health care for both low-income Americans and those with disabilities, with the federal government and states splitting the costs. While the House version adds a new work requirement to Medicaid for childless adults, the Senate wants work requirements to expand to parents of older children. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides food benefits to the poorest Americans, and some Senate Republicans are hoping to place more requirements on states. "So I've been pretty clear that when it comes to Medicaid, those cuts that would harm Alaskan beneficiaries, that's not something that I can take home, right? We have some of the highest health care costs in the country. We have 40% of Alaska's kids that are on Medicaid. I want to try to do what we can to address certain aspects of our entitlement spending. We've got to do that. But doing it with the most vulnerable bearing the brunt of that is not the answer," she said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from North Dakota, wants the reconciliation bill to pass by the July 4 holiday, but that deadline is quickly approaching. Watch more of the interview with Sen. Lisa Murkowski on "CBS Sunday Morning" on Sunday, June 22.

Yahoo

4 days ago

• Yahoo

Morgan Stanley Bets on These 2 Managed Care Stocks Despite Policy Uncertainty

A major shift in U.S. social policy may be underway. The Republican-led Congress and White House are advancing a new tax bill that reflects a stark departure from the previous administration's approach. Central to the legislation are deep cuts – amounting to roughly $1 trillion – to key welfare programs like Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter These entitlement programs have traditionally been considered politically off-limits, but the current majority's willingness to target them signals a broader agenda and raises the prospect of continued policy uncertainty. Despite this uncertain future for the important Medicaid program, Morgan Stanley sees an interesting opportunity for investors in care stocks. The bank's analysis team, led by Erin Wright, an analyst ranked among the top 3% of Wall Street's stock experts, says of the managed care sector: 'We see manageable policy risk, opportunities across D-SNP and ICHRA, and capital deployment supporting +HSD to LDD long-term EPS growth. While policy risk remains in undefined government funding reductions, we view the outcome of preliminary slated Medicaid cuts to be better than feared and this overhang to be disproportionately reflected in the stocks.' Putting that stance into practice, Wright goes on to recommend two specific stocks in the managed care segment. We've used the TipRanks data platform to look up the general Wall Street view of them, and found that both hold Buy ratings and offer double-digit upside potential. Here are the details, and the Morgan Stanley comments. Centene Corporation (CNC) Centene, the first company we'll look at here, has more than 40 years' experience as a managed care insurance provider in the US healthcare industry. The company offers a wide variety of coverage plans in the private health insurance market, ranging from lower-cost affordable plans to higher-end premium offerings – and the company also acts as a provider for government-backed plans, in Medicaid and Medicare programs, as well as military and veterans' services. The numbers show the scale of Centene's operations – and the company's status as one of the major players in the US health insurance scene. Centene boasts a market cap of $27 billion, and employs more than 60,000 people. The company has more than 27.9 million managed care members enrolled in its plans, and boasts that it provides coverage for more than 1 in every 15 people across all 50 states. Specifically, Centene is the largest managed care Medicaid provider in the US, and holds leading positions in three of the leading state markets for Medicaid: Florida, New York, and Texas. Centene also claims to be the 'number one' health insurance carrier on the Health Insurance Marketplace, the exchange originally set up under the Affordable Care Act. The market uncertainties, especially those related to the Republicans' attitude toward health and welfare entitlements, have put pressure on CNC shares this year, and the stock is down approximately 10% for the year-to-date. While the stock is down, however, the company put in a strong display in its last set of reported financial results, covering 1Q25. Membership in the quarter was up 29% year-over-year in the Marketplace, and grew by 22% in Medicare PDP. At the top line, Centene's revenue gained 15% compared to 1Q24, to reach $46.62 billion, and beat the forecast by $3.37 billion. The company reported a bottom line of $2.90 per share, by non-GAAP measures, a figure that was 38 cents per share better than had been anticipated. Turning to Erin Wright, and the Morgan Stanley view, we find that she is impressed by Centene's strong position, which gives the company a sound foundation for future growth in an expanding health insurance niche. The 5-star analyst writes, 'Based on our proprietary analysis, with impending D-SNP integration requirements slated in 2027 and 2030, we view CNC as well-poised for outsized growth in D-SNP (+10% 5-year CAGR), an inherently higher margin segment and a dynamic that is likely overlooked by investors. Faster growth across higher margin segments along with continuing cost savings / S&A leverage should support margin expansion over time. These drivers, along with capital deployment, should support EPS CAGR of +8.8% over the next three years, slightly ahead of Consensus (+8.6%)…' These comments back up the analyst's Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on this stock, while her $70 price target implies a potential upside for the year ahead of 27%. (To watch Wright's track record, click here) The Moderate Buy consensus rating on CNC is based on 12 recent analyst reviews, that include 7 to Buy and 5 to Hold. The shares are currently trading for $54.68 and their $73.60 average price target points toward a gain of 34.5% in the next 12 months. (See CNC stock forecast) Molina Healthcare (MOH) Next on our list, Molina Healthcare, is another multi-billion health insurance provider, with a focus on offering plans through Medicaid and Medicare. The company has been in business since 1980, and today has a market cap of nearly $16 billion. Molina's plans cover a variety of services, starting with primary care and prescription drugs, but also including specialist care, mental health services, vision and dental plans, and even medical transportation. Molina Healthcare is based in Long Beach, California, where it was founded by an emergency room physician. The company's original goal, still relevant today, was to 'fill the gap,' and provide coverage for indigent and low-income patients who would otherwise have to use ER facilities for routine medical procedures. Today, in addition to providing managed care services under Medicare and Medicaid, Molina also operates as an HMO and provides plans through the various state health insurance exchanges. As of this past March 31, the end of 1Q25, Molina had approximately 5.8 million members enrolled. Molina's large enrollment numbers are a solid asset, and translate to sound financial results. In 1Q25, the last period reported, the company's total revenue came to $11.15 billion, a figure that was up more than 12% year-over-year and beat the estimates by $340 million. This revenue performance was backed by strong earnings; the company reported a non-GAAP EPS of $6.08, beating the forecast by 12 cents per share. When we check in again with Morgan Stanley's Erin Wright, we find the top-rated analyst impressed by Molina's prospects. Outlining everything, with particular attention to the company's probable ability to expand revenue growth, Wright says, 'We view MOH as well-positioned for faster than market premium revenue growth with continuing high contract retention rates, where it boasts a successful track record, new contract procurements (MSe +$3.5B in 2025+), and compelling opportunities in D-SNP alignment, helping to fuel an estimated +7.2% organic premium revenue CAGR over the next 3 years, with MSe $8.65/sh embedded earnings power in 2026+. Durable industry leading margins and buybacks (~2% annually) should drive MSe +12.7% EPS CAGR over the next three years (Cons. +12.8%). Consistent with past practices, M&A should also further supplement growth.' Wright puts an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on Molina's stock, which she complements with a $364 price target that suggests an upside for the coming year of 25.5%. Turning now to the overall Street view on MOH, the stock has 11 recent reviews, including 7 Buys, 3 Holds, and 1 Sell, backing up its Moderate Buy consensus rating. The stock's $290.25 trading price and $370.60 average target price together imply that the shares will gain 27.5% on the one-year horizon. (See MOH stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Sign in to access your portfolio

Politico

5 days ago

• Politico

Layoffs and library closures: DOGE cuts hit states

Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government, your guide to Donald Trump's unprecedented overhaul of the federal government — the key decisions, the critical characters and the power dynamics that are upending Washington and beyond. Send tips | Subscribe | Email Sophia | Email Irie | Email Ben The Trump administration's budget-slashing campaign is beginning to hit state governments in full force, as legislatures finalize their spending plans for the next year and confront a harsh reality: less federal help, more layoffs. The cuts are forcing local lawmakers — most of whom have to balance their budget — to scale back public goods, including health programs and libraries, regardless of whether they live in red or blue states. President DONALD TRUMP's decision in March to abruptly rescind $11.4 billion in Covid-related public health grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with $1 billion from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has led to significant state-level layoffs. While a federal judge halted the CDC funding cuts, states have not received the funds back, according to DANIELLE CONLON, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health. In Virginia, the state health department laid off or froze contracts for 530 workers, including 13 full-time employees, blaming the federal cuts. Minnesota let go of 170 employees, citing the same funding shortfalls. State officials in Arkansas, Alaska, and Utah each reported additional layoffs in the double digits and blamed the federal cuts. While originally allotted for pandemic recovery, much of the now-canceled CDC funding was also being used to bolster testing and reporting for bird flu, measles and other infectious disease threats, programs that state officials say remain critical. The CDC funding was supposed to last until 2026 or 2027. Libraries are also feeling the squeeze. In Washington state, both the State Library and the Talking Book & Braille Library will close their doors on July 1 after the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a small federal agency, cut grants because Trump ordered it to reduce operations 'to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law' and the group subsequently cut grants. South Dakota's State Library closed in April. And in Maine, the state library is down to curbside pickup after laying off nearly one-third of its staff in April. Other states are turning to broader measures to address budget constraints. Massachusetts announced an executive branch hiring freeze that took effect in late May, citing expectations of further federal cuts and inflationary pressures. And more pain may be on the way. The GOP's megabill pending on Capitol Hill could impose additional federal spending cuts, including reductions to Medicaid and SNAP, with likely consequences for state budgets already stretched thin. 'If federal cuts go through as planned, states will have to make difficult choices,' the Tax Policy Center wrote in a recent analysis. 'They could cut their own spending on SNAP and Medicaid, potentially hurting some of their most vulnerable residents. Cutting other spending, on education, public safety or transportation for example, may also affect the quality of services and be politically challenging.' MESSAGE US — West Wing Playbook is obsessively covering the Trump administration's reshaping of the federal government. Are you a federal worker? A DOGE staffer? Have you picked up on any upcoming DOGE moves? We want to hear from you on how this is playing out. Email us at westwingtips@ Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe! POTUS PUZZLER Which former president disclosed in a live TV address that a supporter had donated a dog to his family? (Answer at bottom.) Agenda Setting FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Office of Management and Budget Director RUSS VOUGHT will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee next week on the rescissions package that could codify a modest portion of DOGE's cuts. Vought's plan is to put as much pressure on the Senate as possible and leave them without more excuses on passage of the bill, a person familiar with his plans said. The bill requires a simple majority in the chamber. MUSK'S BIG LIES AT SSA: ELON MUSK and his allies systematically spun a false narrative about widespread fraud at the Social Security Administration to justify DOGE's takeover of the agency and attempts to gain access to its data, NYT's ALEXANDRA BERZON, NICHOLAS NEHAMAS and TARA SIEGEL BERNARD report. Musk's fixation with SSA — including his repeated, and debunked, claims that millions of dead people were receiving Social Security checks — developed in February after his team misread government spending data, the NYT investigation found. DOGE officials acknowledged in an internal memo that the deceased were not receiving checks, but Musk continued to peddle the conspiracy on social media and in interviews. SSA employees conducted an extensive analysis of DOGE's claims, which they found to be largely inaccurate. After Musk claimed that 40 percent of the calls SSA received were from scammers, employees had even drafted a response to correct the record. But LELAND DUDEK, the agency's DOGE-sympathizing former acting commissioner, received an angry call from KATIE MILLER, who handled communications for DOGE in the White House, demanding, 'Do not contradict the president.' The investigation also found that DOGE used SSA to flex its political power, including by instructing Dudek to cancel contracts in Maine amid a public spat between Trump and Democratic Gov. JANET MILLS. FANNIE AND FREDDIE AND DONNIE: Republican lawmakers and mortgage industry experts are baffled by Trump's plan to reshape the country's housing finance system, setting up a potential rift in the GOP, our KATY O'DONNELL reports. Trump last month pledged to take public Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while his top housing regulator, BILL PULTE, said the administration is exploring ways to sell shares while keeping the companies under government authority. Trump was widely expected to support the long-held Republican priority of reducing the government's footprint in the housing market by privatizing the firms, which were seized by the Bush administration during the 2008 financial crisis. Knives Out IMPOUNDMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: The Government Accountability Office concluded today that the Trump administration violated the Impoundment Control Act by clawing back federal funding appropriated by Congress to support libraries, archives and museums across the country, our JENNIFER SCHOLTES reports. It's the second time this year the GAO has slapped the administration with impoundment violations, and the watchdog is expected to issue similar conclusions in the coming months as it pursues at least 39 investigations into whether the Trump administration violated the law. A SUB IN THE LIBRARY: The group at the center of the funding firestorm, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is being overseen by KEITH SONDERLING, who is moonlighting from his main job as deputy Labor secretary, our NICK NIEDZWIADEK writes in. Vought has openly expressed contempt for GAO's position with respect to impoundment and his office told GAO on May 30 it will continue to cooperate only when the administration sees fit. WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT YOU'RE FIRED: Trump terminated CHRISTOPHER HANSON from the top job at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the latest move by the White House to assert control over independent agencies, our JOSH SIEGEL and KELSEY TAMBORRINO report. The former commissioner, appointed chair by former President JOE BIDEN in 2021 but initially tapped for the commission by Trump in 2020, said in a statement today he had been fired 'without cause' and 'contrary to existing law and longstanding precedent regarding removal of independent agency appointees.' What We're Reading What Did Elon Musk Accomplish at DOGE? (The New Yorker's Benjamin Wallace-Wells) How Amy Coney Barrett Is Confounding the Right and the Left (NYT's Jodi Kantor) The Next Conservative Civil War Is Coming (POLITICO's Ankush Khardori) Trump's FAA pick has claimed 'commercial' pilot license he doesn't have (POLITICO's Oriana Pawlyk) POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER Former President RICHARD NIXON, at the time a senator from California and the running mate to former President DWIGHT EISENHOWER, declared in an infamous 1952 speech that he had received a political gift in the form of a dog from a supporter in Texas. Nixon's 6-year-old daughter, TRICIA, named the pup CHECKERS — and 'regardless of what they say about it,' Nixon said, 'we're gonna keep it.'