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Which healthcare providers can certify an ABAWD medical exemption for SNAP?
Executive summary
Medical exemptions to the ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) SNAP time limit must generally be documented by a medical or clinical provider on a state ABAWD medical/exemption form — states instruct “medical providers,” “medical, mental health or other clinical provider,” or a case manager to collect and submit that documentation (examples: Pennsylvania, New York City, Philadelphia, Arizona) [1] [2] [3] [4]. Federal FNS materials and state guidance emphasize state agencies screen for exemptions and rely on provider-completed medical statements, but available sources do not list a single uniform national roster of which specific provider types (MD, DO, NP, PA, behavioral health clinician, etc.) are authorized in every state [5] [6] [2].
1. Who the guidance says can certify a medical exemption — states point to “medical providers” and clinical staff
Multiple state agencies and city Human Resources/Administration offices instruct SNAP recipients to bring the ABAWD Medical Statement to a “medical, mental health or other clinical provider” or to have it completed by their “medical provider,” language that signals clinicians across settings are expected to certify medical inability to meet ABAWD work rules (New York City HRA, Pennsylvania advisory, Arizona DES) [3] [1] [4]. Pennsylvania’s health advisory explicitly encourages “medical professionals” to complete the ABAWD Time Limit Medical Exemption Form and return it to the county office [1]. New York’s ABAWD Medical Statement likewise is directed to medical, mental health or other clinical providers [2] [3].
2. Federal FNS policy: states implement screening and accept medical documentation — not a single federal list of provider types
USDA/FNS memos require state agencies to screen for exemptions and apply exception criteria under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act implementation guidance, and FNS posts ABAWD waiver and exemption materials for states [5] [6]. That federal guidance places responsibility on state agencies to receive and evaluate medical certifications; it does not publish a uniform federal taxonomy of which individual professional licenses must sign exemptions for the entire country [5] [6]. Available sources do not list a nationwide list of authorized provider licensures.
3. Practical variation by state — your state form or caseworker is decisive
State pages and local HRA guidance repeatedly tell recipients to contact their caseworker or state SNAP portal to submit medical exemption paperwork, and to confirm exactly which providers qualify in their jurisdiction (Pennsylvania DHS, Delaware DSS, New York HRA) [7] [8] [3]. Arizona’s DES uses the phrase “Medically Certified as Mentally or Physically Unfit for Work,” showing states may apply their own verification standards and forms [4]. In short: states accept medical attestations, but rules about which professional titles or clinics are acceptable are set at the state/local level — check your state office [5] [6] [4].
4. What common provider types are implied by the materials
While no single source supplies a binding list, the language used — “medical provider,” “medical, mental health or other clinical provider,” and “medical professionals” — implies physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, mental health clinicians and other licensed clinical staff are intended signatories in many programs (New York City HRA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia advisory) [3] [1] [2]. Clinical legal services and community legal clinics advising patients likewise instruct clinicians to complete state medical exemption forms (Community Legal Services Philadelphia) [9].
5. Where recipients should go right now to get a definitive answer
State SNAP portals and county/state caseworkers are cited repeatedly as the place to confirm what documentation is required and where to send it; states instruct recipients to return completed medical exemption forms to their County Assistance Office or upload via the state portal (Pennsylvania, New York HRA, Delaware) [1] [3] [8]. Federal FNS materials also direct state agencies to screen and process exemptions [5] [6].
6. Limitations, conflicting perspectives, and practical implications
The sources agree on the need for medical documentation and on-state implementation, but they do not provide a uniform national checklist of acceptable provider types — a key gap for clinicians and recipients seeking certainty [5] [6]. Some advocacy and legal-service materials encourage clinicians to help patients by completing forms promptly; state agencies warn that exemptions must be documented before benefit disruptions [9] [1]. Because states have discretionary exemption allocations and differing administrative processes, variation in acceptance standards is a likely practical consequence [10] [6].
Actionable next step: Download your state’s ABAWD medical/exemption form from your state SNAP website or contact your SNAP caseworker; bring the completed form to the medical, mental-health, or clinical provider your state names or that your caseworker approves [1] [3] [4]. Available sources do not give a national list of specific licenses that can sign the form; check state guidance for that authority [5] [6].