Using OBBBA requirements to advance an integrated, data-driven safety net
This discussion paper advocates for states to use the implementation of OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) as a catalyst to build integrated, cross-agency data systems.
The resource argues that modernizing data infrastructure allows health, labor, and education agencies to share information, thereby reducing administrative costs and making eligibility verification nearly invisible for Medicaid and SNAP enrollees.
It highlights success stories from Allegheny County and Arkansas, demonstrating how integrated warehouses and talent marketplaces can automate work verification and prevent eligible residents from losing coverage due to “documentation treadmills”. Furthermore, the authors emphasize that long-term sustainability requires treating data integration as essential program infrastructure rather than a one-time compliance cost, provided that rigorous privacy safeguards like encryption and audit logs are engineered into the systems from the outset.
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