Rules for Medicaid work requirements are forthcoming, according to The Hill.
Here are six things to know.
1. CMS has said it will consider proposals that include work requirements as a condition for Medicaid eligibility. Such proposals were not approved under former President Barack Obama.
2. The current administration plans to release the rules — which establish conditions for allowing states to implement the requirements — soon, according to the report, which cites "sources familiar with the plans."
3. CMS Administrator Seema Verma showed support for Medicaid work requirements in a November speech at the National Association of Medicaid Directors Fall Conference.
"Let me be clear to everyone in this room, we will approve proposals that promote community engagement activities," Ms. Verma said. "Believing that community engagement requirements do not support or promote the objectives of Medicaid is a tragic example of the soft bigotry of low expectations consistently espoused by the prior administration. Those days are over."
4. But Democrats have contended more people would become uninsured as a result of the work requirements, because they are unable to comply for various reasons (such as a disability) or they are discouraged from signing up for coverage due to "new bureaucratic hurdles," according to The Hill.
5. The publication reports lawsuits are expected over any approvals of Medicaid work requirements.
6. Currently, nine states, including Kentucky, are applying to implement Medicaid work requirements, according to the report.
Read the full article here.
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