Pennsylvania DHS Informs Medicaid Enrollees of Upcoming Work Requirements Starting 2027
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is notifying nearly 700,000 Medicaid enrollees about new federal work requirements set to begin on January 1, 2027. These rules will primarily affect adults aged 19 to 64 who are part of the Medicaid expansion group and do not have dependent children under 14. To maintain coverage, these individuals will need to demonstrate 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, job training, or school attendance, unless they qualify for an exemption. The DHS is communicating these changes through official letters, text messages from short code 69217, and recorded phone calls from 1-877-839-4782. Dr. Val Arkoosh, the state's secretary of human services, emphasized the importance of enrollees reading their mail and keeping their contact information current to avoid coverage gaps. The department is providing materials in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese, to ensure broad understanding of the new regulations.