A new citywide task force will help Hartford residents navigate upcoming changes to the Medicaid program, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam announced Wednesday.

“The message to Hartford residents is really simple: if you rely on HUSKY D for your healthcare coverage, you may be losing it,” Arulampalam said in a press conference at Hartford City Hall. “We want to make sure you know about resources that are there if you do lose your coverage, because of frankly stupid and cruel cuts from the federal government.”

HUSKY D is the part of Connecticut’s Medicaid program that provides coverage to low-income adults who don’t have dependents. Starting Jan. 1, enrollees will have to prove they are complying with new work and community engagement requirements to maintain their coverage. The requirements state that residents must prove they work at least 80 hours or earn a minimum of $580 per month. Or, residents have to show they do at least 80 hours of community service a month or participate in a qualified training program. There are various exemptions, though, like being declared “medically frail.”

State leaders have been scrambling to protect Connecticut residents’ Medicaid coverage. The Hartford HUSKY D Response Coalition is a collaboration between several institutions that operate citywide, including city government agencies, local health centers, employment access groups and religious institutions. Task force members said they will work together to help residents learn more about the Medicaid changes, navigate how to maintain their coverage and providing information about job training and community engagement opportunities.

“The sooner people seek information and assistance, the more prepared they will be when the changes actually take place,” Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, director of the city’s health and human services department, said.

In Hartford, around 13,000 residents will be affected by the changes, according to city officials.

Arulampalam did not say how much money is going into the task force. “I think we’re still trying to figure that out, and it’s going to take some time,” he said.

Officials emphasized that there are actions Hartford residents can take now to be prepared before the changes to HUSKY D are implemented.

These include:

• Contacting the Connecticut Department of Social Services to find official information about eligibility, benefits and coverage options.
• Making sure the information available to the state Department of Social Services and any Access Health CT account information is up-to-date.

DSS has created a website to help residents learn more about the HUSKY D changes. Residents can also fill out an online questionnaire to find out if their eligibility will be impacted.

Task force member Angela Harris, chair of Phillips Health Ministry and Phillips Metropolitan CME Church, said that residents should make sure their phone number, email address and mailing address are updated and accurate. DSS will be reaching out to HUSKY D enrollees with information about the program changes.

“So if you see an alert on your phone, it’s DSS, not spam,” Harris said.

In Hartford, there are also several federally qualified health centers that offer services to residents regardless of insurance status. One of those is Wheeler Health on Woodland Street.

“Our charge is to serve all individuals that reside within our targeted community, and that’s what we do, and that’s what we will continue to do,” Sabrina Trocchi, president and CEO of Wheeler Health, said. “We do not, as health centers, are not asked to collect any information regarding documentation status, and that is not something that we will begin at this point.”

The coalition is still in its beginning stages. More information will be provided in the coming months on how Hartford residents can reach out to the task force.

The local United Way will serve as a “project management lead” for the coalition.

“As the backbone organization for the North Hartford Triple Aim Collaborative, United Way, together with collaborative members, is well positioned to connect residents to employment, job training, and volunteer opportunities to help them meet new requirements and maintain health coverage,” said Eric Harrison, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.