Nearly two weeks after federal officials approved Kentucky's request to impose Medicaid work requirements, the decision is facing a legal challenge from a group of state residents, according to Reuters.
Here are five things to know.
1. The legal challenge comes via a proposed class-action lawsuit filed against HHS. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., by 15 Kentucky Medicaid recipients.
2. In the lawsuit, plaintiffs contend HHS' approval Jan. 12 of Kentucky's request to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients went beyond the authority delegated to the agency under federal law, according to the report.
3. Kentucky's new rules require certain adults ages 19 to 64 to complete at least 80 hours each month of 'employment activities' including work, job training and community service to receive Medicaid benefits. The state first submitted the waiver for the new rules in 2016, and CMS announced earlier this month it would allow states to institute such requirements.
4. Plaintiffs argue Kentucky has "effectively rewritten" federal Medicaid law with these rules, according to Reuters. The publication reported plaintiffs also challenged Kentucky's requirement that Medicaid enrollees pay an income-based premium or risk being locked out of Medicaid for six months. The state's rules exclude former foster care youth, pregnant women, primary caregivers for dependents, full-time students and disabled individuals.
5. Kentucky is among at least 10 states CMS said had proposed Medicaid employment and community engagement initiatives.
Leo Vartorella contributed to this report.
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