Here's how states can cushion the blow of Trump's ‘big, beautiful' bill

The Hill

2 days ago

The 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' is being touted as a big step in efficiency and economic growth.
For those of us who have worked with government for years, we know at the core of civic tech is a simple idea: When government builds programs with real humans in mind, we get systems that are more trusted, more effective and, ultimately, more efficient.
But this bill is a step in the wrong direction — instead of streamlining government services, it strips them away.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 10 million people will stop receiving Medicaid and approximately 2 million people will be prevented from receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Low-income families will be disproportionately impacted even if they did everything right — worked hard, played by the rules, and struggled to make ends meet.
The question now is how states can implement these new policies in a way that does the least amount of harm for people who rely on critical government services.
The civic technology community has been working for more than decade to make government work better through the use of digital technology, from simplified applications to making flexible cash available to families. As CEO of Code for America, I have seen first-hand the importance of implementation — not just policy — in shaping the lives of everyday people.
In our work with red states and blue states alike, we've learned — and demonstrated — that it is possible to design government services that work better, cost less and deliver improved outcomes for people — something everyone can stand behind.
In the coming months, states will have to grapple with new paperwork requirements, increased caseloads and less federal funding support. Even in this moment of policy uncertainty, states have the power to choose implementation approaches that uphold human dignity while achieving genuine efficiency. This is the better way forward. One that sees the people behind the paperwork and designs for them, with empathy rather than as obstacles to overcome.
First, to improve cost savings, states should proactively review and, when possible, renew people eligible for Medicaid. Like any program with eligibility criteria, there is a renewal process for people to continue to receive Medicaid. However, this process is often burdensome and complex, causing people to be cut off from benefits and having to re-apply. Re-enrollment is more time consuming and expensive than a regular renewal, leaving state administrators, caseworkers and clients with more work.
Instead, states like Minnesota and Colorado have found success with 'ex parte' renewals, a process by which a state automatically renews benefits using existing, available data. In Minnesota, 'ex parte' renewals reduced the time it took for caseworkers to process a renewal from 70 minutes to 11 minutes per case. And in Colorado, this process has saved caseworkers more than 200 hours every month — an estimated $66 million in cost savings for the state.
Second, states should design applications that are simple, use plain language and are mobile-friendly. When the federal government expanded the Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, the IRS worked quickly to automate its delivery by leveraging existing data instead of manually processing applications for 60 million children. For families who didn't qualify for automatic benefit delivery, a free, simplified tax filing tool called GetCTC helped nearly 200,000 families claim a collective $685 million. The tool created an accessible front door by asking simple questions to collect only the data required by the IRS. The whole process could be completed on a mobile device in less than 15 minutes.
States shouldn't overlook accessible, scalable solutions that are cost-effective and efficient. Technology solutions don't have to be expensive or flashy to work. Something as simple as text message reminders can have a profound impact by reducing administrative burdens and saving caseworkers valuable time.
For example, Louisiana developed LA'MESSAGE, a text message reminder service across four benefit programs: Medicaid, SNAP, Women, Infants and Children and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The state used text messaging to send reminders and guidance to benefit recipients at key points throughout the enrollment and renewal process. This led to a 37 percent increase in renewals for SNAP and 67 percent increase in renewals for Medicaid.
In Boulder County, Colo., state agencies used text messaging reminders to reduce missed interviews — one of the most common reasons for benefit denials — by 10 percent. This meant caseworkers made fewer calls with no answer and received fewer calls to reschedule missed interviews.
The work isn't always easy, but it's worth doing. Every simplified application, every automated renewal, every text reminder that helps someone keep their healthcare is a victory. At a time when trusting institutions feels fragile, these acts of service matter more than ever. Because when we build government services that actually serve people, we don't just create programs — we restore faith in the possibility that our institutions can be a force for good in people's lives.
This is the way we transform not just government, but democracy itself. And we will continue to work toward nothing less.