New HUSKY D Outreach and Education Guide and Updated Messaging Starter Kit Materials

This summer, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), community partners, and local coalitions, advanced ongoing, statewide efforts to support outreach and education about new federal Medicaid work rules affecting HUSKY D beneficiaries beginning in January 2027.

Under the new rules, individuals who have HUSKY D and who do not qualify for an exemption to the new requirements will need to meet at least one of the following in order to maintain HUSKY D coverage: earn $580+/month; complete 80 hours/month of work, community service, volunteer work, training (or a combination); or be enrolled in school at least half-time.

CHA encourages hospitals and health systems to use the following materials to raise awareness about the new rules in their own communications with patients, members, staff, and community stakeholders. Providers are also encouraged to disseminate the resources broadly through community-based organizations, coalitions, faith-based organizations, and local partners to help ensure consistent messaging across Connecticut.

RESOURCES

• UPDATED: HUSKY D Messaging Starter Kit Materials, available here in English and here in Spanish
  • HUSKY D Changes Fact Sheet
  • Flowchart: Do HUSKY D Work Rules Apply to Me?  
  • HUSKY D Changes Poster
  • HUSKY D Changes: SMS Awareness Messages
  • Providers and Community-Based Organization HUSKY D Resource Materials
  • NEW: HUSKY D Changes: Social Media Posts
• NEW: HUSKY D Outreach and Education Guide, available here

The HUSKY D Messaging Starter Kit Materials that CHA released earlier this year have been updated to reflect recent developments, including the addition of the DSS HUSKY D pre-screener tool, revisions to language and messaging informed by stakeholder feedback, and clarifications based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interim final rule issued on June 1, 2026.

A new HUSKY D Work Rules Outreach and Education Guide is designed to help hospitals and community organizations effectively use outreach materials, engage patients and community members, and coordinate communication efforts with trusted community partners. The guide may also be used alongside the Keep Your Health Coverage Coalition Playbook to support local coverage protection and outreach initiatives. The Outreach and Education Guide provides practical recommendations on how and where to use the materials, how to prepare staff and trusted messengers, and how to extend outreach efforts beyond healthcare settings into the community.

All current and future HUSKY D resources are available on the CHA website at cthosp.org/huskyd.