8 Red States Take Hard Line On Medicaid Work Requirement Exemptions

The federal government offered states a grace period that would allow people to stay on Medicaid through 2027 by declaring themselves too sick to work, without verification, until 2028. Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah instead are implementing stricter work requirement rules than the administration required, Politico reported.

Politico: The Trump Admin Offered Sick Medicaid Patients A 1-Year Lifeline. These Red States Are Rejecting It

Democrats say the Trump administration’s new Medicaid work requirements — especially the narrow definition of who can get an exemption for medical reasons — are way too harsh. Conservatives contend they’re not tough enough, and have convinced some Republican-led states to be even stricter. (Ollstein and King, 8/9)

MedPage Today: Court Case Challenging Medicaid Work Rule's 'Frailty' Requirement Gets Moved Up

States unhappy about a new "medical frailty" provision in the Medicaid work requirement rule are continuing their fight over the rule in court. ... A hearing in the case has been scheduled for Oct. 20. (Frieden, 8/7)

Also —

WISH-TV: Indiana Families Lose Medicaid Access For Children With Disabilities

Families with disabled children in Indiana face Medicaid cancellations due to administrative errors and new assessments. (Kenney, 8/6)

CalMatters: Medicaid Cuts Could Ripple Through California Healthcare Systems

Experts warn Medicaid cuts won't just hurt the uninsured — the effects could ripple through the entire health system. (Hwang, 8/7)

WPR: Wisconsin Health Providers Worry New Medicaid Work Requirement Hurts Doctor-Patient Relationship

Scott Stewart, CEO of the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, said the existing system for health insurance claims is not designed to indicate a person’s level of impairment or ability. “It’s set up to say this is what a patient has, but it’s not set up to say anything more than that,” Stewart said. “You have to really also think about the privacy aspects of that. Now you’re saying that I have to potentially give a patient’s chart, which they have to sign off on in terms of HIPAA, to say that they are medically frail and meet all definitions?” (Kirwan, 8/10)

Wisconsin Examiner: A Wheelchair Ride Across Wisconsin Calls Attention To Medicaid Cuts

After a 125-mile trip on his powered wheelchair, Carl Schulze rolled up just before noon Thursday to the Wisconsin Capitol. (Gunn, 8/7)

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