New York: Mayor Mamdani Launches HART Team With Services in 13 Languages to Help Residents Keep Health Coverage and Food Benefits
New York — New York City Mayor Mamdani, together with the city health department, announced on October 19 the launch of the Health and Affordability Resource Team (HART) in New York, New York, to help residents navigate new federal eligibility rules for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The city has budgeted $3 million for the program in fiscal year 2027.
Federal Medicaid work requirements take effect on January 1, 2027, and the city estimates that up to 900,000 New York residents risk losing health coverage; on food benefits, about 26,500 New York residents have lost SNAP benefits since federal SNAP work requirements expanded on March 1 of this year. HART is staffed by trained community health workers offering services in 13 languages, and many members have themselves been through these benefit programs. The team will bring help directly into communities, prioritizing neighborhoods most at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, assisting residents to understand the new rules, keep their benefits and reapply, and also helping with cash assistance, housing support, eviction prevention and hospital bill relief.
The health department has provided policy guidance to more than 35,000 health care providers and 60,000 community and faith partners, and has held more than 50 training sessions. Residents can call the health department's enrollment counselors at 347-665-0214. Mamdani said: “Health care and nutritious food should not be a privilege, but a basic necessity of life.” (GSM, based on the New York City Mayor's Office release and Utica Phoenix reporting)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0 / NYC Mayor's Office
