Federal Government to Implement Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients

Ironically, the first waiver request the Trump administration is likely to approve is from Kentucky, a state that has benefited enormously from Medicaid coverage for people facing opioid addiction. "Such programs should be created to promote better mental, physical, and emotional health in furtherance of Medicaid program objectives". It is also contrary to HHS's claim that "work requirements" promote work.

The Trump administration announced Thursday it will allow states to require some Medicaid recipients to work.

Bevin says to not include an expectation for able-bodied people receiving Medicaid to work is a form of "soft bigotry".

Conservatives say the work requirement can help lead people to employment and off the state-federal health program. For those in low-wage sectors such as food service, retail or child care, the chances are high that their jobs don't offer health insurance.

The federal government has approved most of Governor Matt Bevin's proposed changes to the state's Medicaid program. "Having the participation of a broad array of doctors including those in private practice is important so kids can get care when they need it and that they can have an ongoing relationship with a pediatrician".

Kerri Wyland, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Scott, did not directly answer whether Scott would support work requirements or co-payments for the Medicaid program. The reality is that many low-income jobs do not fit into the "9 to 5" box. The complications of juggling low-wage work schedules and other obligations in life (care for children or aging parents) make the extra documentation of changing work hours a burden for everyday Americans doing their best to make ends meet. By making it harder for people to have health insurance, "you're going to make it less likely for them to work", he said. Taking away people's health care or ability to get needed medications only reduces their ability to work.

A detailed evaluation of Medicaid expansion in OH by that state's Department of Medicaid explains how it pays off for workers and taxpayers.

Meanwhile, many of those who don't work are going to school or caring for children or other family members, and many others are ill or disabled but haven't been able to officially qualify for federal disability insurance. In fact, more than half of Medicaid expansion enrollees reported that health coverage has made it easier to maintain employment.

And it's not just Ohio.

Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner says the program will help citizens find a faster path to better health, but Rep. John Yarmuth (D-03) called it irresponsible. "We don't have childless able-bodied working age adults in our system, so I don't know how that would transpose to us".

This story was produced by Side Effects Public Media, a reporting collaborative focused on public health.

Despite their concerns about the change in Medicaid policy, critics of the plan acknowledge that it will touch only a fraction of the nation's total enrollment.

In the data, there is a positive correlation between work and both physical and mental health; states that impose the work requirement will be required to show improvements in order to continue their programs. The new policy allows states to make exceptions to the work rules for caregivers and students, but it doesn't require that they do so.

One day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out new guidance on Medicaid work requirements, Kentucky became the first state to get approval from the government to implement them, Reuters reports.