Advocates call on state leaders to fix DSS call center and other problems in response to federal budget bill
Twenty-four consumer groups signed a letter to Governor Lamont and legislative leaders urging them to call a special session to address imminent harms from passage of HR-1 in Washington. While the federal budget bill passed July 4th is expected to cause significant long-term harms to Connecticut, some impacts need to be addressed before the next legislative session that starts in February.
Imminent cuts include coverage for many legally residing immigrants.
The state also needs to address extreme wait times at the DSS call center. In July, the average wait time was 51 minutes and 53% of callers gave up before anyone picked up the call. These numbers have not changed much in years. It takes nine months to a year for DSS to hire and train new call center staff. As complex new Medicaid work requirements under HR-1start January 1, 2027, calls will undoubtedly increase. The state needs to start preparing now.
HR-1 requires 340,000 childless Connecticut Medicaid members to meet work requirements that must be verified by the state twice each year. It’s important to note that most people in the affected group are already working.
Work requirements have failed miserably in states that have tried it. In Arkansas’s program, 18,000 members lost coverage but a large survey found that all of the respondents complied with the requirements. There was no increase in employment or hours worked in the affected population.
Work verification systems are very costly. Georgia spent more administering the program than they did on medical care for the people covered.
There are some exemptions for those who can’t work, but they are even harder to verify.
HR-1 is expected to cause 150,000 Connecticut residents to lose healthcare coverage, bringing our uninsured rate to the highest level in 20 years. Under the law, Connecticut’s Medicaid program will lose $8 to $14 billion over the next ten years.