Medicaid's work requirement crunch arrives
Massive changes to Medicaid eligibility are entering a new phase as states begin implementing new work rules and patients face the first real risk of losing coverage.The big picture: The crunch period has started for states to get the word out and set up systems for many Medicaid enrollees to report at least 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering or get an exemption."If that goes wrong, people are going to be really, really upset, and that is a political firestorm that nobody wants," said Matt Salo, a health care consultant and former executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.Driving the news: In Nebraska this week, Medicaid enrollees who fail to report their community engagements will start to lose coverage.Reporting requirements are reportedly already causing confusion for Medicaid enrollees in the state, which is the first to implement requirements well ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline.The state's Medicaid director said about 200 people will lose coverage this week, and each denial is being reviewed multiple times before enrollees are notified, the health policy podcast "Tradeoffs" reported.Projections show as many as 7 million nationwide could lose coverage as a result of work requirements in 2028.What they're saying: Patients, providers and advocates flooded the administration with tens of thousands of comments last week, urging changes to its directions for how states must implement the work requirements passed by Congress last year.
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Massive changes to Medicaid eligibility are entering a new phase as states begin implementing new work rules and patients face the first real risk of losing coverage.The big picture: The crunch period has started for states to get the word out and set up systems for many Medicaid enrollees to report at least 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering or get an exemption."If that goes wrong, people are going to be really, really upset, and that is a political firestorm that nobody wants," said Matt Salo, a health care consultant and former executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.Driving the news: In Nebraska this week, Medicaid enrollees who fail to report their community engagements will start to lose coverage.Reporting requirements are reportedly already causing confusion for Medicaid enrollees in the state, which is the first to implement requirements well ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline.The state's Medicaid director said about 200 people will lose coverage this week, and each denial is being reviewed multiple times before enrollees are notified, the health policy podcast "Tradeoffs" reported.Projections show as many as 7 million nationwide could lose coverage as a result of work requirements in 2028.What they're saying: Patients, providers and advocates flooded the administration with tens of thousands of comments last week, urging changes to its directions for how states must implement the work requirements passed by Congress last year. Many raised concerns that the disability and illness exemptions are inadequate.The American Cancer Society released new survey results showing that 90% of cancer patients and survivors said they had to miss work, school or volunteering gigs as a result of their illness.Three-quarters said it would be hard to successfully submit paperwork to prove they worked or get an exemption during treatment. State of play: Providers are getting anxious, too.
Read the full report at Axios ↗
Why it matters
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- What's the story?
- Massive changes to Medicaid eligibility are entering a new phase as states begin implementing new work rules and patients face the first real risk of losing coverage.The big picture: The crunch period has started for states to get the word out and set up systems for many Medicaid enrollees to report at least 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering or get an exemption."If that goes wrong, people are going to be really, really upset, and that is a political firestorm that nobody wants," said Matt Salo, a health care consultant and former executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.Driving the news: In Nebraska this week, Medicaid enrollees who fail to report their community engagements will start to lose coverage.Reporting requirements are reportedly already causing confusion for Medicaid enrollees in the state, which is the first to implement requirements well ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline.The state's Medicaid director said about 200 people will lose coverage this week, and each denial is being reviewed multiple times before enrollees are notified, the health policy podcast "Tradeoffs" reported.Projections show as many as 7 million nationwide could lose coverage as a result of work requirements in 2028.What they're saying: Patients, providers and advocates flooded the administration with tens of thousands of comments last week, urging changes to its directions for how states must implement the work requirements passed by Congress last year.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 7.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 16m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
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Medicaid's work requirement crunch arrives
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