Interstate public benefits program launched

North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer (R) yesterday formally unveiled Health Passport, a project to integrate multiple-agency, multiprogram public benefits delivery across state lines.

Bismarck; Cheyenne, Wyo.; and late this summer Reno, Nev., are the initial launch points for Health Passport, which is the first multistate pilot project with the federal government to deliver a variety of benefits on a single smart card.

Using Health Passport, individuals will be able to access Medicaid accounts and collect food benefits such as milk and cereal and other products under the federal government's Women, Infants and Children program. Bismarck yesterday gave 25,000 people that capability.

civic.com will profile Health Passport in our next issue, available July 5.