New Medicaid Rules Raise Questions about Work and Benefits
On January 11, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance allowing states to require Medicaid beneficiaries to engage in “work or other community engagement” activities to receive coverage. A new report from the Urban Institute notes that this represents a “dramatic departure from Medicaid policy over the past 50 years,” and poses important questions for CMS and the states to consider as they move forward. The authors argue that most Medicaid enrollees are already working or would likely be exempt from the new requirements, and states should carefully consider the costs and benefits of adopting new work standards.