There is so much happening in health policy at the state and federal level, it can seem overwhelming. We’ve been pulling together a handful of resources for health equity advocacy to share every month. This month’s advocacy resources include information on HR1, fact checking and timely tips from national experts, and information on the state budget.
FAQs on HR1
The Connecticut Department of Social Services has a webpage with information on the changes stemming from HR1, the federal law from last year that makes a lot of changes to Medicaid, SNAP, and other federally funded programs. The page includes frequently asked questions for members and for providers on topics including work requirements, eligibility changes, cost-sharing, and who is subject to specific changes.
What to measure when work reporting requirements take effect
In states that have implemented work reporting requirements, many people who are eligible have lost coverage. As Connecticut and other states roll out work reporting requirements, it will be important to build ways to monitor what happens to people. The Georgetown Center for Children and Families explains why it’s so important to have this data and offers a list of potential performance metrics to track.
>>> Read about the importance of monitoring
>>> See the list of performance metrics
Is that a fact? Check it out
Our friends at the Georgetown Center for Children and Families have started doing more fact checking to counter a rise in false narratives about Medicaid. (Here’s an example of a recent fact check, about immigration and health coverage). If you come across a statement you’d like help checking out, reach out to the team at Georgetown at childhealth@georgetown.edu.
What’s happening with the state budget?
Gov. Ned Lamont proposed adjustments to the current two-year budget earlier this month, and legislators are now working on their own proposal. You can see the governor’s proposal here. You can find detailed analyses of the proposed changes from the Office of Fiscal Analysis, or OFA, which provides nonpartisan research on fiscal matters for the legislature. OFA will post more detailed budget sheets for each department as they become available.