Homemade Chocolate Chunk Granola
This homemade granola is everything I want in a pantry staple: super simple, naturally sweetened, and filled with nutrient-dense ingredients I already have on hand. It’s lightly sweet, perfectly crunchy, and totally customizable. The only downside is the kids eat it as fast as I can make it!
I added a pinch of cream of tartar in this version to help the baking soda activate better and give it that crave-worthy crunch. This recipe has been on repeat in our house, it’s that good.
How to Make Homemade Granola
Some granola is soft and chewy, while others are crunchy. While I love soft, chewy cookies, this recipe makes a big batch of crunchy chocolate granola. Coconut sugar and maple syrup give it a little natural sweetness and the slightly melted chocolate chunks help hold it together.
The trick is to make sure you don’t overcook it. Yes, it’s crunchy, but we don’t want the bad kind of burnt crunchy. Once it’s out of the oven it will continue to crisp up. I’ll also stir the chocolate chunks in while the granola is still slightly warm. You don’t want them to completely melt, just soften enough to hold the oats together.
How to Use Homemade Granola
A lot of the granola you’ll find at the store has loads of sugar or filler ingredients. There are some healthier brands now, but they’re also expensive. And with a houseful of kids who love chowing down on granola, homemade is the easiest, cheapest option!
Here are some of our favorite ways to use homemade granola
Here’s how to make your own crunchy chocolate chunk granola!
Homemade Chocolate Chunk Granola
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Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: oats, coconut sugar, oat flour, coconut flour, chia seeds, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
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In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients: almond butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir until smooth and well combined.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until everything is evenly coated. The mixture should be slightly sticky and clumpy.
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Spread the mixture evenly on your baking sheet. Press it down gently with the back of a spoon or spatula if you want more granola clusters.
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Bake for 20 minutes, then gently stir and rotate the pan. Bake for another 10–15 minutes or until golden and fragrant. (The granola will crisp up as it cools.)
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Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10–15 minutes. Once the granola is still warm but not hot, gently stir in the chocolate chunks. This helps them melt just enough to bind to the granola without turning into a full chocolate coating.
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Let the granola cool fully before storing. It will crisp up as it cools. Break into clusters.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Chocolate Chunk Granola
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 466
Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 162mg7%
Potassium 414mg12%
Carbohydrates 61g20%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 8IU0%
Vitamin C 0.01mg0%
Calcium 90mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks (if you don’t devour it before then!).
What are some of your favorite make ahead snacks? Leave a comment and let us know!
11 of the Best Types of Pachyveria Succulents
I’ll go over what to expect in terms of color and shape so that you can decide which ones you might like to seek out to add to your succulent collection.
Here’s a quick look at our selection:
11 of the Best Types of Pachyverias
All pachyverias share similar care requirements: they thrive in full sun with infrequent watering. Admittedly, there is a bit more to successful cultivation than just getting light and water right.
You’ll also need to understand how and when to repot, choose appropriate soil types, and address any pest or disease issues.
And most growers want to know how to propagate succulents to share with others or expand their collection.
Our guide to growing pachyveria succulents covers all of this and more!
Now let’s take a closer look at 11 favorite varieties:
1. Belle Blue
A blue beauty of a succulent, ‘Belle Blue’ has chunky, oval leaves that are light blue with a pebble-like appearance.
With dense foliage held in a clumping growth habit and reaching four to six inches tall, this cultivar also produces pink and yellow flowers.
‘Belle Blue’ is a cross between unknown Pachyphytum and Echeveria parents.
2. Blue Pearl
Another blue-tinted cultivar, ‘Blue Pearl’ has elongated, finger-like leaves in bluish green, held in a somewhat loose rosette shape.
This cultivar of unknown parentage reaches five to six inches tall and takes on tints of pink and orange in intense light. It produces yellow blooms.
3. Bubble Candy
These hybrids present some chunky succulent options, such as ‘Bubble Candy.’
With fat, rounded leaves, this cultivar is a pale yellowish-green, taking on pastel, pinkish tones in bright light.
With its candy-like foliage, this cross reaches about six to eight inches tall and produces soft yellow to orange blooms.
You can purchase two-inch, live ‘Bubble Candy’ plants from Sprout N Green via Amazon.
4. Clavata
Not all pachyverias are chunky, some of these succulents have wider, more open forms, such as ‘Clavata.’
With grayish-green, flattish leaves that are held in a loose rosette, this cultivar reaches 11 to 15 inches tall and produces orangish-red flowers.
‘Clavata’ is a cross between Pachyphytum bracteosum and an unknown Echeveria species.
5. Clavifolia
‘Clavifolia’ features finger-like foliage held in a densely-packed rosette. This plant has thick, curving, blunt leaves in pinkish gray, dusted with a white farina.
A cross between Pachyphytum bracteosum and Echeveria rosea, this cultivar reaches up to six inches tall and bears blooms that are a muted red hue.
You can purchase two-inch ‘Clavifolia’ plants from The Next Gardener Store via Amazon.
6. Elaine
‘Elaine’ is a plant that dazzles with her quirky coloring. This cultivar has chunky, rounded leaves that are light blue to orange with pointed tips, held in dense rosettes.
A cross between Echeveria colorata ‘Lindsayana’ and Pachyphytum oviferum, ‘Elaine’ sports yellow blooms.
You can find ‘Elaine’ plants in two-inch pots available via Amazon.
7. Glauca
Some of these plants resemble finely detailed sculptures, such as ‘Glauca.’
This variety displays pale green to pale blue leaves that are sharply pointed and somewhat flattened, forming an upright rosette shape.
A cross between Pachyphytum hookeri and an unknown Echeveria species, the blooms are pink on the outside and yellow on the inside.
You can find plants in two-inch containers available from USKC via Amazon.
8. Glossoides Gossot
Some pachyverias have a trailing habit with loosely arranged leaves.
‘Glossoides Gossot’ produces long stems that hold open, bluish-green rosettes of tongue-shaped leaves covered with a white farina.
The stems of this cultivar reach up to 12 inches long and the flowers are yellow or red on the outside with yellow interiors.
‘Glossoides Gossot’ is a cross with unknown parentage.
9. Little Jewel
One of the most well-known pachyverias, little jewel aka ‘Bea’ features green to blue rosettes covered with a dusting of farina, and pointed and faceted leaves that are held upright.
‘Bea’ is a cross between Pachyphytum compactum and an unknown Echeveria species. It reaches up to six inches tall and has coral-colored blooms.
Learn more about little jewel pachyverias here.
10. Pachyphytoides
With clumps of colorful rosettes and petal-like leaves, x Pachyveria pachyphytoides is an eye-catching succulent.
First described in 1874, this plant is a cross between Pachyphytum bracteosum and Echeveria metallica.
Senators introduce resolution supporting U.S. Preventive Services Task Force : Shots
U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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Two senators introduced a resolution Tuesday evening to preserve the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, following reports that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may soon fire its current members.
Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine and Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sponsored the resolution.
“Prevention is at the heart of how we need to approach the cost of health care in this country,” King said, in an interview with NPR. “To see that process disrupted would be a huge blow to the health of Americans.”
The resolution recognizes the “important work” of the Task Force, which has convened voluntary, independent medical experts to review evidence and make recommendations for primary care physicians since 1984. Since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, its recommendations have been tied to services and medicines that most health insurers must cover without co-pays.
These include “screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer, and folic acid supplements for women to prevent birth defects in their babies,” along with recommendations to prevent “the most common causes of chronic disease in the United States [including] smoking, obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol” in children and adults, the resolution states.
It calls for the Task Force to continue without interruption or delay, and to “continue to be grounded in transparent, evidence-based review that is based on vetted, proven, and scientifically demonstrated studies.”
In response to reports that Kennedy may disband the committee, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon told NPR: “No final decision has been made on how the USPSTF can better support HHS’ mandate to Make America Healthy Again.”
That’s why King and his colleagues are introducing the resolution. “We’re trying to call attention to what’s going on here and put some pressure on the administration to back off,” he says. “If anything, this is an initiative that should be significantly beefed up rather than compromised.”
King worries that if the Task Force’s current processes get disrupted, “we could end up with recommendations for interventions that aren’t proven, that don’t have a scientific and factual basis that could end up costing the system more money.”
While a simple resolution doesn’t carry the force of law, “In this case, it’s still the Senate sending a strong message,” says Dr. Aaron Carroll, a pediatrician and CEO of AcademyHealth, a nonpartisan professional group of health service researchers. “It shows that lawmakers get how crucial the USPSTF is for keeping health decisions grounded in evidence and not partisan.”
U.S. primary care doctors use these guidelines every day, says Dr. Carol Mangione, a primary care doctor and professor at UCLA, who has served as a member and chair of the USPSTF, and she hopes the task force will continue to function as it currently does.
“I hope that Americans continue to get the health dividends from screening for colon cancer, starting a statin if you’re high risk, getting screened for depression if you’re postpartum,” Mangione says. “It would be a loss to not have easily accessible, tailored recommendations for someone’s age, their background risk, to make sure they get to have the best health possible in their lives.”
Kimberly’s Golden Garden in North Carolina
Hi GPODers!
We see a diverse range of gardens here at Garden Photo of the Day, but I often wish we saw more edible gardens. Don’t get me wrong—I want to see any and all of the plants you grow, and what is shared with the blog on a weekly basis blows me away, but the beauty of a kitchen garden should not be understated. One gardener proving my point is Kimberly Moore-Dudley from Greensboro, North Carolina. Kimberly grows a wide variety of gorgeous vegetables and includes a lot of flowers to encourage pollinators. Her bountiful garden proves that gardening can be just as delicious as it is beautiful.
Hi! I’m Kimberly, and I live in Greensboro, North Carolina. I have a 1,000-square-foot vegetable and flower garden. I’ve always dreamed of having a kitchen garden full of the southern varieties I grew up with. I’m currently a Master Gardener volunteer intern with the NC State University Master Gardener Volunteer program working toward my certification in November. My family has always had gardens, and I’m sharing our traditions with my daughter, who graduated from college last year. Gardening will always be a part of my life, and it brings me so much joy.
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram under Kimberly’s Golden Garden.
Kimberly has ample space for growing; I know a lot of small-space gardeners are salivating at the sound of 1,000 square feet of open gardening space, but even a decent-sized plot fills up fast. Aside from the necessary room needed for maintaining plants and accessing her harvest, Kimberly utilizes every available inch.
And her hard work pays off in the form of these diverse and delicious harvests! A grocery store’s produce department is a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, but growing your own crop can open your eyes to the incredible diversity in varieties and flavors that are actually available. The gorgeous purple hull beans in the center are a great example. They are a type of cowpea and a nitrogen-fixing plant—beautiful, delicious, and beneficial!
A vegetable gardener’s best friends are some bright flowers that signal to the pollinators that it’s their turn to put some work in. Vegetable flowers tend to be small and can easily be overlooked by bees in their hunt for nectar and pollen. Planting some bigger blooms will attract the bees, who will eventually find their way to your veggie plants as well. Learn more about this technique here: Grow More Flowers to Harvest More Food. Kimberly’s impressive harvests are absolutely due, in part, to her abundance of flowers.
Another colorful and delectable harvest: You know your garden (and diet) is successful when you’re producing this much color.
Aside from the colorful harvest and beautiful flowers, the plants in a veggie garden can have some ornamental qualities. Your average tomato plant isn’t going to be anything to write home about, but the variegated foliage on Kimberly’s ‘Confetti’ sweet bell peppers is worthy of any garden bed.
Among all these stunning vegetables and flowers, Kimberly still finds space to grow some incredible fruit. This watermelon isn’t quite ready for harvest, but it’s shaping up to be a beautiful and delectable summer snack.
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible garden with us, Kimberly! The wide array of gorgeous crops that you grow is inspirational, and your mission to pass on the tradition of gardening with your daughter is truly heartwarming.
I know many more GPODers have vegetables patches, but opt to share “prettier” parts of their garden. I challenge you to share both! My favorite part of Garden Photo of the Day is celebrating all facets of gardening, from our ornamental beds to native havens, and edible gardens to indoor plant collections. No matter what you grow, we love to see it and learn more about it! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Lee Valley Garden Obelisks
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Sturdy yet lightweight, these obelisks provide ample support for climbing plants while being easy to install and move. The medium obelisk stands 68 1/2″ high overall with a diameter of about 9 1/2″, compact enough for smaller containers indoors or out. The large size stands 86 1/2″ high with a diameter of 15 3/4″, ideal for larger outdoor spaces and containers.
Gilmour 5/8″ x 25′ Round Weeper Soaker Hose
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Lightweight garden hose is made of 100% recycled vinyl for clog resistant, consistent soaking in the garden or around foundations. Can be installed above or below ground to efficiently deliver water directly to plant roots. Can be linked with other hoses to create your own DIY garden drip irrigation system, and is flexible for easy storage and space saving.
Lee Valley Large Gardener’s Wash Basket
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This basket was designed to be used by gardeners to wash freshly harvested vegetables before taking them inside. You can gather your vegetables and then hose them off right in the same basket. However, you can also use it for fruit or add a cloth liner for serving bread or other baked goods. Measuring 16″ long, 11″ wide and 4″ deep, it is made of chrome-plated steel to resist rust.
15 Pothos Companion Plants – Plants to Grow Together
Growing planting indoors is one of the recommend way to make your indoor space more aesthetically pleasing.
Pothos being most popular and easy to grow houseplant, it does well when planted with other indoor plants.
Companion planting is an age-old practice that has been proved to deter pests, attract pollinators and enhance overall growth of crop.
Even container gardeners have adopted companion planting, as it allows them to increase the variety of plants they can grow together in limited space.
In this write-up, you’ll learn about the plants that can be grown with pothos.
Before that let me share a few benefits of companion planting.
Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting is a smart way to get the most out of your space—you can grow more plants together, even if your shelves or windowsills are already full.
Plus, mixing different plants helps them grow better and keeps your indoor garden looking lively.
Another cool perk is that certain plant combos can naturally keep pests away, so you don’t need to mess with chemicals. Your plants also end up sharing nutrients more efficiently, which means less work for you and healthier greenery overall.
Grouping plants with different colors and shapes makes your home feel cozy and full of life.
It turns your indoor garden into a little oasis that’s both productive and super pretty.
15 Pothos Companion Planting
When choosing houseplants to grow with pothos, it is essential to choose species that share similar growing conditions.
Go for plants that thrive in moderate to bright, indirect light and prefer well-drained soil with consistent but not excessive moisture.
Ensuring such compatibility allows both pothos and its companions to flourish together, making care routines simpler and promoting a cohesive, healthy indoor garden.
1. Peace Lily
Peace Lily is an elegant indoor companion for Pothos, featuring lush dark leaves and graceful white blooms.
Peace Lilies thrive in moderate to bright, indirect light—direct sun can scorch their leaves, while low light may reduce flowering. Their water needs are similar to Pothos, preferring the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but not allowed to get bone dry.
Peace Lilies do best at temperatures between 65–80F and enjoy a humid environment, so regular misting can help.
Like Pothos, they benefit from a balanced liquid fertilizer, but only during their growing season, about every 4–6 weeks at half strength.
With their air-purifying abilities and overlapping care routines, Peace Lilies make both practical and beautiful partners for your indoor Pothos plantings.
2. Snake Plant
Looking for a hardy, adaptable partner for your Pothos? Snake Plants fit right in. With their sword-like leaves shooting upright, they handle a wide range of household light—happy with anything from bright corners to that dim spot you’re not sure what to do with.
Like Pothos, Snake Plants prefer when you let the soil dry out before watering again, reducing the risk of root rot.
Temperature swings aren’t a problem for these tough plants; anything from 60–80F feels just right. Feed them lightly with diluted liquid fertilizer in spring and summer, but otherwise they thrive with little attention.
If you want an indoor combo that looks sharp, purifies the air, and pretty much cares for itself, Snake Plants and Pothos make the perfect low-maintenance team.
Also Read: 9 Common Pothos Problems and How to Fix Them
3. Jade Plant
The Jade Plant, with its plump, glossy green leaves and tree-like appearance, adds structure and contrast to a Pothos arrangement.
Its preference for bright, indirect light complements Pothos’ own needs, making window sills or well-lit corners ideal locations.
Both plants dislike soggy soil—allow their pots to dry out between waterings, and use a well-draining mix to keep roots happy.
Jade’s compact, upright form balances nicely against Pothos’ trailing vines, giving your display interesting height and texture.
4. Begonia
Begonia offers a burst of color and drama with its diverse foliage and often vivid flowers.
Perfect for humid areas, both Begonia and Pothos appreciate regular misting and indirect light; avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorching.
Begonias require soil that is kept gently moist (not wet), while Pothos is more drought-tolerant, so keep them on a similar watering schedule for ease.
Together, they form a vibrant, multifaceted arrangement that draws the eye and livens up shaded spots.
5. Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig)
Ficus Benjamina, with its glossy, cascading leaves, grows upward and outward, providing a natural “canopy” for trailing Pothos.
Best placed in bright, filtered sunlight, both plants share a need for even moisture—water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Ficus benefits from occasional misting, which also suits Pothos if humidity dips.
While Ficus can grow into a small indoor tree, its slender trunk and arching branches offer a graceful backdrop to Pothos’ lush foliage.
6. Asparagus Fern
Airy and delicate, Asparagus Fern softens the look of larger, bolder leaves like Pothos’.
Both like a spot with filtered sunlight and consistent water; mist regularly to prevent browning fronds, especially in dry homes.
Their growth habits—Pothos trailing, fern arching—mesh beautifully in mixed planters or hanging baskets, creating a gentle, woodland-inspired feel in your space.
7. Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera’s dramatic, fenestrated leaves immediately draw attention, while Pothos provides a flowing cascade beneath.
Both thrive in bright, indirect light and require watering once the top layer of soil has dried out.
Monstera can grow quite large, so it pairs best in spacious rooms or as the statement plant in a group. Fertilize both plants in growing months for best results—this duo turns any room into a tropical hideaway.
8. Spider Plant
Spider Plants are energetic, with striped leaves and offshoots that dangle below the pot, mixing well alongside Pothos.
Adaptable to most light conditions, both these plants take well to being a little neglected—let soil dry out then water well.
Spider Plants send out “pups,” or new small plants, adding more greenery without extra work. The mutual air-purifying abilities and easy-care routines make them perfect for busy households.
9. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ Plants boast glossy, feather-like stalks that stand upright and shine in low-light corners, just like Pothos.
This pairing thrives on neglect: allow soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings, reducing the risk of rot.
Both tolerate low humidity but look fuller with occasional misting. Their contrasting vertical and trailing habits create visual variety while streamlining plant care for minimal fuss.
10. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
Dieffenbachia’s broad, highly-patterned leaves stand out in any grouping, especially when set against the sleek green Pothos.
Both prefer warmth, moderate light, and soil kept evenly moist but never soggy.
Use caution when handling Dieffenbachia plants, as their sap can irritate skin and is toxic if ingested. When grouped with Pothos, they make a striking, statement arrangement with a lush, tropical vibe.
11. Philodendron
Many Philodendrons closely resemble Pothos, with heart-shaped leaves and vining growth.
This classic pairing thrives best in moderate, indirect sunlight and with regular light watering, allowing soil to partially dry out between drinks.
High humidity is a plus, so consider grouping pots or using a pebble tray. Let the vines tangle for an untamed, wild appearance or train them along support stakes for a neater look.
12. Calathea
Calathea adds drama with its stunning, patterned foliage that moves to follow the light throughout the day. It prefers filtered sunlight, consistent moisture, and higher humidity—conditions that also help Pothos shine.
Calathea is particular about water quality; distilled or filtered water helps avoid leaf edges browning. Together, these two create a luxurious, rainforest effect for the discerning plant lover.
13. Tradescantia (Wandering Jew)
Tradescantia boasts eye-catching leaves in shades of green, purple, or silver and grows quickly with Pothos in similar moderate, indirect light.
Keep their potting soil moist but not wet, and enjoy trimming cuttings for new plants.
Hanging planters show off their trailing habits, creating a dynamic, layered waterfall of color and texture perfect for brightening up shelves, mantles, or window ledges.
14. Areca Palm (Butterfly Palm)
With its slim, feathery fronds and gentle upward growth, Areca Palm pairs elegantly with flowing Pothos vines.
Both love lots of indirect light and evenly moist soil—never soggy.
Areca’s ability to raise humidity helps Pothos (and nearby plants) thrive, while its substantial size makes it a stunning anchor for mixed indoor planters or as a floor plant next to cascading containers.
15. Boston Fern
The Boston Fern brings full, arching fronds and lush, thick greenery to your Pothos groupings. Both plants do well with bright, indirect light and benefit from regular misting to keep fronds soft and healthy.
Boston Fern requires more moisture than Pothos, so group them in high-humidity spots like kitchens or bathrooms.
The combination delivers a soothing, classic green backdrop with plenty of natural movement and texture.
Choose the Right Companion Plant for Pothos
Selecting the right companion plants for Pothos not only enhances the beauty of your indoor garden but also ensures all plants thrive together.
By selecting species with similar care requirements, you create an effortless and harmonious environment, making plant care simpler and your indoor space healthier and more attractive.
Light Requirements
Choose companions that prefer moderate to bright, indirect sunlight, just like Pothos. Avoid pairing with plants needing either deep shade or direct sun, as consistent lighting helps all grouped plants grow evenly.
Water Requirements
Opt for plants that like the soil to dry out partially between waterings. Pothos and its ideal companions typically dislike overwatering and are prone to root rot if kept too wet, so synchronized watering routines benefit all.
Soil Requirements
Use a well-draining, airy potting mix to support both Pothos and its companions. Good drainage prevents waterlogging, which is crucial for the health of these houseplants.
Nutrients
Feed Pothos and its companions with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks in the growing season. Uniform fertilization ensures each plant gets what it needs without risk of over-feeding.
Conclusion
Companion planting with Pothos transforms an ordinary indoor collection into a thriving, resilient, and visually dynamic environment.
By carefully choosing plants with similar light, water, and soil needs, you simplify plant care while enhancing growth, air quality, and aesthetic diversity.
This thoughtful pairing also encourages mutual benefits, such as improved pest resistance and a stabilized microclimate, which helps all plants flourish together.
Ultimately, grouping compatible companions with Pothos results in a healthier, more attractive, and effortlessly maintained indoor garden
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting
Do ‘work requirements’ in Medicaid work? Georgia’s been trying it for two years : Shots
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, left, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, right, sign waivers allowing Georgia to institute work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients at the state Capitol in Atlanta, Oct. 15, 2020.
Jeff Amy/AP
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Jeff Amy/AP
Now that Republicans’ big tax-and-spending bill has become law, there will be new bureaucratic hurdles for millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid.
The new law contains a provision that in most states, for the first time, low-income adults will have to start meeting work requirements to keep their health coverage.
Some states have already tried this, but Georgia is the only state that currently has an active system using work requirements to establish Medicaid eligibility — and recipients must report to the system once a month.
When she first started using the system, Tanisha Corporal, a social worker in Atlanta, wasn’t opposed to work requirements — in principle.
But then she left her job at a faith-based nonprofit to start her own project, called the Be Well Black Girl Initiative. While she got that up and running, she needed health coverage. She soon came face-to-face with the daunting bureaucratic hurdles involved in meeting Georgia’s work requirements.
“I would have never thought that I was going to run into the challenges that I did, with trying to get approved, because I’m like, I know the process,” Corporal said. “I’m a social worker. I’ve been in human service.”
Georgia’s system: a win for other states, or a warning?
Corporal was familiar with the state’s social service programs. She had spent many years helping other Georgians sign up for benefit programs.
But the challenges Corporal ran into, with paperwork and the process, were unexpectedly severe. Other Georgians have also struggled to comply with the work requirements.
Tanisha Corporal spent eight months resubmitting paperwork and navigating through red tape to prove that she, and her son, a full-time college student in Georgia, both met the requirements of working, studying, or volunteering at least 80 hours a month to qualify for Medicaid.
Jess Mador/WABE
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Jess Mador/WABE
That’s why health advocates are concerned about other states having to set up their own systems, given Georgia’s experience. They say the eligibility verification involves excessive red tape, leading to improper denials and loss of health coverage.
As early as 2027, the law will require adults on Medicaid who are under 65 to report how they are using their time: to be eligible for coverage, they will have to spend at least 80 hours every month at work, in school, or in volunteer activities.
Alternatively, these adults could submit documentation showing they qualify for an exemption, such as being a full-time caregiver.
Verification systems like Georgia’s can be expensive to implement and run. In the two years since launching its program, Georgia has spent more than $91 million in state and federal funds, according to state data.
More than $50 million of that was spent on building and operating the eligibility reporting system.
Currently, 8,078 people are enrolled in Georgia as of June 30.
Denials, appeals and confusion
For Corporal, 48, forgoing health insurance wasn’t an option. She had pre-diabetes as well as other medical concerns.
“I have breast cancer in my family history,” she said. “I gotta get my mammograms.”
On paper, it looked like she qualified for Georgia’s program, called Pathways to Coverage, for adults who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for traditional Medicaid in Georgia.
To be eligible, adults must have an income below the federal poverty level, which is $15,650 per year for an individual, or $26,650 per year for a family of three. They also must show they’re working at least part time, attending school, training for a job, or volunteering at least 80 hours a month.
Corporal was already volunteering at least that much, including with the nonprofit Focused Community Strategies, and helping with other South Atlanta community improvement efforts.
An information booth for Georgia Pathways, the state’s Medicaid program that includes work requirements, at a job fair in Atlanta, Ga. on June 5.
Sudhin Thanawala/AP
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Sudhin Thanawala/AP
She gathered up the various documents and forms needed to verify her volunteer duties and hours, then submitted it all through Georgia’s online portal.
“And we were denied. I was like, this makes no sense,” said Corporal, who has a master’s degree in social work. “I did everything right.”
In the end, it took eight months fighting to prove that she, and her son, a full-time college student in Georgia, both qualified for Medicaid.
She repeatedly uploaded their documents, only for them to bounce back or seemingly disappear into the portal. She went through numerous rounds of denials and appeals.
Corporal pulled up one of the denial letters on her cell phone, and read it out loud.
“Your case was denied because you didn’t submit the correct documents. And you didn’t meet the qualifying activity requirement,” she read from the email.
When she tried to call the state Medicaid agency, it was difficult to reach anyone who could explain what was wrong with her application paperwork, she said.
“Or, they’ll say they called you and we look at our call log. Nobody called me,” she said. “And the letter will say, you missed your appointment and it’ll come on the same day.”
Georgia promises tech fixes
Corporal’s application was finally approved in March after she spoke about her experience at a state public hearing about Pathways to Coverage, covered by Atlanta news outlets.
When asked about the delays and difficulties Corporal experienced, Ellen Brown, a spokesperson for Georgia’s Department of Human Services, emailed this statement: “Due to state and federal privacy laws, we cannot confirm or deny our involvement with any person related to a benefits case.”
Brown added that Georgia is implementing a number of tech fixes to streamline the uploading and processing of participants’ documents. They include, “rolling out a refresh to the Gateway Customer Portal in late July that will include easier navigation and training videos for users as well as built-in prompts to ask customers to upload required documents.”
Now that Corporal has Medicaid coverage, she has to recertify her volunteer hours every month using the same glitchy reporting system.
“It’s still a nightmare. Even once I got through the red tape and got approved,” Corporal said. “Now maintaining it is bringing another level of anxiety.”
But she wonders how anyone without her professional background manages to get into the program at all.
“I think the system has to be simplified,” she said.
Because Georgia set up its work requirement before the recently-passed law, it had to get permission from the federal government through a special waiver.
It is now seeking an extension of that waiver to continue the Pathways to Coverage program beyond its current expiration of September 2025. In the application, officials said they would reduce the frequency by which participants needed to re-verify their hours from once a month, to once per year.
What happened in Arkansas
But for now, Corporal’s experience remains typical. And many health advocates fear it will be replicated elsewhere.
“In Georgia, we have seen that people just can’t get enrolled in the first place. And some folks who do get enrolled lose their coverage because the system thinks they didn’t file their paperwork or there’s been some other glitch,” said Laura Colbert, who leads the advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future.
Another state, Arkansas, also tried work requirements in 2018.
But it didn’t go any better for Arkansas, said Joan Alker, who leads the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University.
“A lot of the problems were similar to Georgia,” she said, “in terms of the website closed at night, people couldn’t get a hold of people.”
Some Republicans who backed the legislation known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” said the idea behind the national Medicaid work mandate is to ensure that as many people as possible who can work, do work.
Another benefit is it will help eliminate what the Trump administration deems waste, fraud and abuse.
“What we’re doing is restoring common sense to the programs in order to preserve them because Medicaid is intended to be a temporary safety net for people who desperately need it,” said Speaker Mike Johnson during a June appearance on the Megyn Kelly Show.
Medicaid was meant for certain populations, Johnson argued, such as people with disabilities and “young, single, pregnant moms who are down on their luck.”
“But it’s not being used for those purposes because it’s been expanded under the last two Democrat presidents, and to cover everybody. So, you’ve got a bunch of able-bodied young men, for example, who are on Medicaid and not working. So what we’re doing is restoring work requirements to Medicaid, okay? This is common sense,” Johnson said.
National work requirements are unlikely to actually boost employment, Alker said, because more than two-thirds of Medicaid recipients already have jobs. The remainder includes students, or those who are too sick or disabled to work.
“Work requirements don’t work, except to cut people off of health insurance,” she said.
The logistical steps required to report one’s activities assume that a recipient has reliable internet or transportation to travel to an agency — both things that low-income Georgians may not be able to access, Alker said.
The paperwork requirements to gain coverage via is time consuming, said Georgia resident Paul Mikell, who has Medicaid.
Mikell is a licensed truck driver, but does not have coverage through that job. He’s also an electrician who currently does property maintenance in exchange for free housing.
Mikell has had Medicaid through Pathways for nearly two years. He had problems navigating the Pathways web portal.
“And I know it wasn’t my device because I would go to the library and use the computer, I would try different devices, and I’ve had the same issues,” he said. “Regardless of the device, it’s something with the website.”
Another time, he said, his attempt to recertify his work hours got delayed for paperwork issues.
“They said I was ineligible for everything because of a typo in the system or something, I don’t know what it was. I eventually was able to speak to someone and she fixed it,” he said.
This story comes from NPR’s health reporting partnership with WABE and KFF Health News.
15 of the Best Native Wildflowers for the US and Canada
This perennial is hardy in Zones 2 to 7 and is also known as narrow leaf fireweed or blooming sally.
The long, narrow leaves resemble those of willows, inspiring a couple of other common names: willow herb and great willow herb.
A member of the Onagraceae family like its relative evening primrose, the upright racemes of magenta flowers bloom from summer to fall.
Though fireweed usually grows to heights of two to six feet, occasionally it reaches an outstanding nine feet tall. It typically has a spread one to three feet.
This species grows well in full sun, but in climates with hot summers, it is happier in part shade.
Fireweed is adaptable to medium-dry to medium-wet soil. It grows best in acidic soils that are rich in organic matter and well-drained, with a pH between 5.0 and 6.6.
C. angustifolium spreads via rhizomes and self-seeding, so this plant works best in a naturalized-type planting.
It is also suitable for rock gardens, borders, and cottage gardens, and is very striking when grown in large swaths, for more color impact.
Fireweed is a larval host to the white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), and also attracts long-tongued bees and hummingbirds.
You’ll find fireweed seeds available from Everwilde Farms via Amazon.
8. Gray Goldenrod
With its large sprays of golden flowers, gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) creates a mass of bright color from summer to fall.
Native to the eastern two-thirds of North America this species is hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
A member of the sunflower family, gray goldenrod has grayish-green foliage, and its spikes of yellow flowers nod slightly when in full bloom.
Also called prairie goldenrod, old field goldenrod, or field goldenrod, it grows six to 24 inches tall with a six- to 24-inch spread. It’s one of the smaller varieties of goldenrod.
Gray goldenrod can grow in full sun or part shade, tolerates dry or medium-dry conditions, and thrives in poor soil. It’s ideal for planting in sandy, rocky locations.
This species spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding, so it is best used in naturalized plantings, like cottage gardens.
Butterflyweed, black-eyed Susan, common yarrow, Jerusalem artichoke, nodding onion, and wild bergamot make excellent companions for gray goldenrod.
Find gray goldenrod in packs of 2,000 seeds from Everwilde Farms via Amazon.
Learn about growing goldenrod here.
9. Jerusalem Artichoke
Related to sunflowers, the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) produces edible tubers, which have a taste reminiscent of globe artichoke.
This species is native to eastern and central North America, the Intermountain West, Idaho, and Washington. It is hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
Also called sunchoke, the flowers have yellow petals and greenish-yellow centers, with green foliage that is rough to the touch.
It grows six to 10 feet tall with a spread of three to five feet, and blooms in late summer.
Jerusalem artichokes are adaptable to either full sun or part shade, and either dry or moderately moist soils. The plants are not fussy about soil type, provided it is well draining.
This species spreads through rhizomes and self-seeding, so it is best used in a natural-type planting where its spread will be appreciated.
Purple coneflower, wild bergamot, nodding onion, and New England aster will make good companions.
Organic Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers
Ready to plant these perennials? You can purchase Jerusalem artichokes tubers from Yumheart Gardens via Amazon.
You can read more about growing and caring for Jerusalem artichokes here.
10. Joe-Pye Weed
With flat clusters of fragrant pink or purple flowers, joe-pye weed (Eutrochium spp.) is a pollinator favorite.
This plant is native to most of the northern two-thirds of North America, and is hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
The species that I am recommending here is a perennial that was formerly classified as Eupatorium purpureum.
There are several more closely related species that also go by this common name, and all have similar growing requirements.
