White House Takes First Step To Attach Work Requirements To Medicaid

[Swordsmyth]

The policy change, according to the Washington Post, is the biggest blow to Medicaid in the program’s 50-year history. However, it’s widely expected that any attempts to implement this policy will be met with a court challenge by the states, which administer Medicaid, and advocacy groups.
To be sure, 10 states are already lined up to adopt the new policy. They’re just waiting for federal permission to impose work requirements on able-bodied adults in the medicaid program.


Furthermore, three other states are contemplating them. Health officials could approve the first waiver - probably for Kentucky - as soon as Friday, according to two people with knowledge of the process.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...nts-medicaid-0

[Zippyjuan]

Congress would have to pass a law but Trump can allow states to "experiment" with it.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42651541

A study by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that almost 60% of working-age Medicaid recipients are already employed full time or part time.

In order to implement any new policy based on the guidance, states would have to propose the changes through waivers and wait until they are granted federal approval.

[phill4paul]

They’re just waiting for federal permission to impose work requirements on able-bodied adults in the medicaid program.

I cannot even fathom what a contentious response would be.

[Swordsmyth]

Trump can allow states to "experiment" with it.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42651541

And when they do how is that not implementing the policy?

[Zippyjuan]

And when they do how is that not implementing the policy?

It is allowed on a temporary basis- though "temporary" could mean a couple years.

People are not legally required to hold a job to be on Medicaid, but states traditionally can seek federal waivers to test new ideas for the program.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...rement-n836756

Thursday's administration guidance to states spells out safeguards that states should consider in seeking work requirements. These include:

—exempting pregnant women, disabled people and the elderly.

—taking into account hardships for people in areas with high employment, or for people caring for children or elderly relatives.

—allowing people under treatment for substance abuse problems to have their care counted as "community engagement" for purposes of meeting a requirement.

The administration said states must fully comply with federal disability and civil rights laws, to accommodate disabled people and prevent those who are medically frail from being denied coverage. States should try to align their Medicaid work requirements with similar conditions applying in other programs, such as food stamps.

[oyarde]

If my state were allowed to run medicaid I doubt any able bodied adults under retirement age would get any benefit anyway .

[Swordsmyth]

It is allowed on a temporary basis- though "temporary" could mean a couple years.

Or forever.
It will be impossible to take away like legal weed.