Change Coming For Medicaid Beneficiaries Effective January 1, 2027

Beginning January 1, 2027, H.R. 1 will require many adult Medicaid (Medical Assistance) beneficiaries to complete 80 hours per month of work, education, volunteering, or job training to maintain coverage. While there are details still to be discussed and finalized, and even challenges in the courts, this is a good time to learn more about these changes and how to support your patients. 

PA Navigate is an online tool that connects Pennsylvanians with community-based organizations, county and state agencies, and healthcare providers, for referrals to community resources that help them meet their most basic needs such as food, shelter, transportation, and more.

From PA Navigate: 

Across Pennsylvania, PA Navigate continues to grow as a trusted resource for connecting people to food, housing, transportation, and other essential supports. As more providers, health plans, community-based organizations (CBOs), and higher education partners join the network, PA Navigate is strengthening the link between health care and community support that individuals and families rely on every day.

As Pennsylvania evaluates the implications of H.R. 1 and evolving Medicaid community engagement requirements, stakeholders across the Commonwealth are exploring scalable, coordinated ways to support individuals and streamline compliance. PA Navigate, alongside complementary tools such as eligibility verification platforms, offers a practical pathway to connect individuals with meaningful work, volunteer, and support opportunities while improving visibility into participation and benefits eligibility.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has launched a new website to keep Pennsylvanians updated on these changes and what they need to do to prepare.

Pennsylvanians who receive benefits like SNAP and Medicaid need to make sure their contact info is up to date with BOTH PA DHS and the U.S. Postal Service so that they receive information about their benefits. Click here to read more about how your patients must update contact information to avoid missing important benefits notices!