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 a guide to how health systems can maintain their focus on health equity in the current environment; information on changes to health policies affecting immigrants; new data on disability in Connecticut; and a guide to when you should trust a text message about benefits.
How health systems can stay committed to health equity
Many health systems have embraced health equity as critical to delivering high-quality care, but some are concerned about how to pursue their commitments in the current environment. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement published a report on how health care organizations have adapted their health equity work. The report includes guidance on how health systems can continue their commitments to health equity.
How states verify citizenship and immigration status in Medicaid
Eligibility for Medicaid is changing this year for people with certain immigration statuses. Additionally, the federal government is now requiring states to reverify the citizenship or immigration status of some people already enrolled in Medicaid. KFF released a helpful primer on Medicaid eligibility requirements for immigrants and how they will change, how states verify immigration status, and the new verification requirements.
National Immigration Law Center guide to health and public benefits
The National Immigration Law Center is hosting a series of webinars designed to provide tools to protect immigrant rights. A recent session focused on health and public benefits, and includes helpful slides on what policies are changing, what service providers can do now, and what to tell community members.
>>> See the slides on health and public benefits
New data on disability in Connecticut
One of DataHaven’s latest reports focuses on the experiences of people with disabilities. One in four Connecticut residents has some form of disability, and people with disabilities face significant disparities in access to health care and other things that are key to wellbeing. The data in this report comes from DataHaven’s Community Wellbeing Survey.
>>> Read the report on disability in Connecticut
A source for data to keep eligible people covered
Starting in January 2027, adults with HUSKY D coverage will face new work-reporting requirements. Some people are exempt from these requirements, including people who are considered medically frail. It’s important to find ways to identify those who are exempt from the requirement so they don’t inadvertently lose coverage. This piece from Manatt Health highlights a source of information that could be helpful: health information exchanges (such as Connie in Connecticut).
>>> Read about the role of health information exchanges in finding exemptions
How to tell what’s a real text from DSS
We all get a ton of spam text messages, and it can be hard to figure out whether something coming from an unknown number is legit or not. The Department of Social Services uses text messages to share information about changes to benefits, and as more changes take place, these texts can make a difference, if people trust them. DSS produced a guide to help people know what’s a real text from DSS.
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