Kentucky’s Tweaked Medicaid Work Requirement Rules Face Fresh Court Challenge
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's first attempt to add work requirements to Kentucky's Medicaid program were blocked by a federal judge. Bevin reworked the rules and was re-approved by the Trump administration to move forward with the changes. Now, residents are trying to thwart this second attempt at implementing the requirements.
The Associated Press:
Kentucky Residents Again Seek To Block New Medicaid Rules
Sixteen Kentucky residents have again asked a federal judge to block new eligibility requirements for Medicaid, but the partial federal government shutdown could delay a decision until after the new rules take effect. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is trying to change Kentucky's Medicaid rules so some people would have to pay premiums and either get a job, go to school or do volunteer work to keep their health coverage. President Donald Trump's administration gave him permission last year to do it, but a federal judge blocked the rules in June before they could take effect. (Beam, 1/15)
The Hill:
Trump Administration Sued Over New Kentucky Medicaid Work Requirements
The lawsuit comes after a federal judge in June blocked Kentucky’s efforts to impose work requirements and premiums on beneficiaries days before the waiver was set to go into effect. “The Secretary is working to effectively rewrite the Medicaid statute, ignoring congressional restrictions, overturning a half century of administrative practice, and threatening irreparable harm to the health and welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable in our country,” the complaint says. A federal judge ruled in June 2018 that Kentucky’s effort to add work requirements to the state’s Medicaid program was “arbitrary and capricious.” (Weixel, 1/15)
CQ:
Medicaid Work Requirements Challenged In Court
Advocates have argued that many Medicaid recipients would not be able to afford premiums. Individuals could also be locked out of coverage for up to six months for not paying these premiums or not providing sufficient documentation for income level changes. “The Trump administration’s desire to explode Medicaid and transform it into a work program seems to have no limits. After being declared arbitrary and capricious last year, the administration has now issued a virtually identical re-approval letter; it should face a similar fate and be declared illegal,” said Southern Poverty Law Center Deputy Legal Director Samuel Brooke in a statement. “Medicaid was intended to provide health coverage and care to the most vulnerable populations.” (Raman, 1/15)
In other Medicaid news —
Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Medicaid Expansion Costs Raise New Questions About Hospital Tax
A tax on hospital revenue to pay for Virginia’s share of the cost of expanding its Medicaid program might not cover the expense of administering a state proposal for a work requirement and other conditions for people who receive health care benefits under the program. Some members of the Senate Finance Committee were taken aback Tuesday by Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposal to use money from the state budget’s general fund to pay $13 million in administrative expenses for the state to seek federal approval of a waiver that would allow it to establish the work requirement and other conditions. (Martz, 1/15)
Modern Healthcare:
Plans, Providers Split On Easing Medicaid Network Adequacy Standards
Health plans clashed with provider and consumer groups in their reactions to the CMS' proposal to give states more flexibility in regulating the adequacy of provider networks in Medicaid managed-care plans. For-profit plans strongly backed the CMS' proposal to roll back the Obama administration's 2016 rule requiring states to set minimum time-and-distance standards for network adequacy, which nearly all states now use. Under the proposed rule, states could use alternative standards, such as provider-to-enrollee ratios. (Meyer, 1/15)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Evers , GOP Square Off Over BadgerCare As Governor Backs Off WEDC Plan
Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday he would plow ahead with plans to expand a health insurance program under Obamacare despite Republican opposition, but gave up on a campaign pledge to dissolve the state's economic development agency. Republican lawmakers hailed the Democratic governor's decision to abandon — at least for now — his proposal to replace the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. with a traditional state agency focused on stimulating business growth. (Marley, 1/15)