Recent federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP are creating uncertainty for families, healthcare providers, and community organizations across New York. These changes were the focus of a recent Social Services Roundtable convened by Congressman George Latimer, where leaders from healthcare, government, nonprofit organizations, and community services gathered to discuss what comes next for Hudson Valley residents.
Among the panelists was Amie Parikh, CEO of Hudson Valley Care Coalition (HVCC), who emphasized that while Medicaid is often viewed simply as health insurance, it is much more than that for the people who depend on it every day.
“For many individuals and families, Medicaid means access to medications, behavioral health services, nutrition, housing support, transportation, preventive care, and the long-term services and supports that allow people to remain healthy, independent, and connected to their communities.”
Public Programs Are Community Infrastructure
During her remarks, Parikh noted that hundreds of thousands of residents in New York’s 16th Congressional District rely on Medicaid, Child Health Plus, SNAP, and other public benefit programs.
“These are our neighbors, our children, our seniors, people with disabilities, and working families.”
She stressed that when so many people depend on these programs, the effects of policy changes extend well beyond the individuals receiving benefits.
“When nearly 365,000 people in one congressional district rely on public coverage, changes to Medicaid and SNAP are not simply individual challenges, they become our community challenges.”
Hospitals, federally qualified health centers, behavioral health providers, food banks, schools, county governments, and community-based organizations all experience the downstream effects when people lose coverage or face new barriers to care.
Healthcare Doesn’t End at the Doctor’s Office
One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was that health is shaped by much more than clinical care.
Reliable transportation. Safe housing. Nutritious food. Behavioral health services. Long-term supports for older adults and people with disabilities.
These are not peripheral services—they are often the difference between preventing a crisis and responding to one.
As the New York State designated Social Care Network Lead Entity for seven Hudson Valley counties, Hudson Valley Care Coalition works alongside healthcare providers, health plans, and more than 160 community partners to help eligible Medicaid members connect with health-related social supports that can improve health outcomes and reduce avoidable emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Preparing for What’s Ahead
While many of the new federal Medicaid requirements will not take effect until 2027, the panel emphasized that preparation needs to begin now.
New York State will notify Medicaid members who are affected by the upcoming recertification and activity requirement changes. But those notices can only reach people if the state has current contact information.
Recognizing that many Medicaid members have questions, Hudson Valley Care Coalition recently launched a new online Medicaid Recertification Resource Center to help residents understand what is changing and what steps they should take today.
The resource explains:
- What Medicaid recertification changes are coming in 2027
- Who may be affected—and who is exempt
- How to update your contact information with New York State
- How to find your Medicaid recertification date
- Where to access local job training and volunteer resources that may help satisfy future activity requirements if they apply
Most importantly, it reinforces a simple message: don’t wait until you receive a letter. Taking a few minutes now to update your contact information and understand your renewal timeline can help avoid unnecessary interruptions in coverage later.
A Community Responsibility
The roundtable discussion reinforced that protecting access to healthcare isn’t solely the responsibility of government or healthcare providers. It requires collaboration among hospitals, health plans, community organizations, schools, local governments, and trusted nonprofit partners.
For the Hudson Valley Care Coalition, that means continuing to build connections between healthcare and community services while ensuring Medicaid members have access to clear, reliable information during a period of significant change.
As policies evolve, one thing remains constant: helping people stay connected to care is one of the most important investments a community can make.
Learn more about the upcoming Medicaid recertification changes by visiting Hudson Valley Care Coalition’s new Medicaid Recertification Resource Center. There you’ll find the latest guidance, practical steps to protect your coverage, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to trusted state resources.
