Opinion: How HR1 deepens racial inequities

CT Mirror – Thursday, January 29, 2026
By Ayesha R. Clarke

Ayesha R. Clarke serves as the Executive Director of Health Equity Solutions and as the Co-Chair of the Advisory Body of the Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health.

For most Americans, regardless of their education or background, health insurance can be tricky to navigate. For Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, these barriers are not just inconveniences – they’re baked in inequities.

With the passage of a federal budget bill (also known as HR1 or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), new federal policy changes are poised to make things even more challenging. In particular, new work reporting requirements and eligibility reviews for HUSKY D enrollees beginning in 2027 are not simply a tweak to Medicaid – they introduce sweeping new administrative burdens that will push eligible people out of coverage.

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