About 110,000 poor adults in Connecticut are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage under new federal work rules, which could lead to a surge in uninsured patients seeking care through hospital emergency departments.

State Officials Scramble to Preserve Coverage

State officials are working to avert a crisis by helping Medicaid recipients comply with the new work and community engagement requirements. The requirements mandate that recipients work at least 80 hours or earn a minimum of $580 per month, or demonstrate at least 80 hours of monthly community service or participation in a qualified training program.

Critics argue that these rules changes will not bolster employment but rather strip coverage from vulnerable residents, including those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The new federal definition of ‘medical frailty’ has added another layer of complexity, requiring states to prove that a person’s medical condition ‘significantly impairs’ their ability to work.

Collaborative Efforts to Identify At-Risk Patients

The Connecticut Hospital Association and Comptroller Sean Scanlon are hoping that other regions will mimic collaborative efforts in the greater Stamford area to identify at-risk Medicaid recipients and preserve eligibility. A new task force, launched in February, leverages health care providers, nonprofit social services agencies, local housing authorities, and library staff to reach and assist patients.

While the effort in Stamford is laudable, some officials fear that other parts of Connecticut will struggle to reach at-risk Medicaid patients due to limited resources. The state Department of Social Services estimates that 110,000, or 35%, of the 316,000 poor adults without children insured through the Medicaid-funded HUSKY D program are at risk of losing coverage in six months unless they can demonstrate compliance with the new requirements.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.