Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's quixotic efforts to snatch health insurance away from poor Kentuckians was dealt another setback today when a federal judge in Frankfort, Ky., tossed out the governor's lawsuit against sixteen low-income Kentuckians. Meanwhile, the legal battle over Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas continues.
On June 1, with the blessing of the Trump administration, Arkansas became the first state in the 50-year history of the Medicaid program to impose a work requirement on certain beneficiaries.
Arkansas's new rule to require work of many Medicaid recipients and a requirement that recipients report by computer is working. If by working you mean reducing the number of people eligible.
Many Medicaid beneficiaries work full time — or more — but only a portion of the year, the lead author of the study noted. Among the group of recipients who aren't exempt but are currently working, he said, "we found they’re averaging about 35 hours per week. So it’s not that they’re opting to not work ... . It’s more a matter of whether they have consistent work or not.”
DHS will be mailing separate letters to those it presumes will be exempt — for example, the agency knows some households contain dependent children, based on other benefits data — and those it presumes will be subject to the requirement.
DHS Director Gillespie said the online-only reporting requirement was part of a concerted effort by her agency to move toward digital communications in general — but she also acknowledged it was simply more convenient for DHS.
Modern Healthcare reports that leading Democrats are pushing the Trump administration to release information about the administrative costs of implementing new work requirements for the Medicaid program in red states, including Arkansas.
The open line comes with a warning for those on the Medicaid insurance coverage provided by Obamacare that they'll soon be required to report regularly to the state on their work habits.
Legal Aid of Arkansas has begun putting out the word about the coming work requirement for Medicaid benefits. It will offer help to those who need it to avoid losing coverage.