Medicaid's steep work requirements trigger battle for lobbyists

WASHINGTON — Patient groups are fighting for a waiver of Medicaid work requirements, but states’ unusually fast implementation timelines are causing headaches.

Federal regulators have until June 1 to tell states how to implement a provision of President Trump’s tax cut bill that requires certain Medicaid recipients to show whether they are working, attending school or volunteering to maintain coverage. If the regulation goes into effect, states would have until January 1 to implement the system.

Advocates for people with certain medical conditions are meeting with federal officials to advocate for these patients to be automatically exempted from work requirements. For example, sickle cell patients recently met with White House budget officials to request an exemption. Advocacy groups for people living with HIV are working on similar efforts.

STAT+ exclusive story