AXIOS: Medicaid's work requirement crunch arrives
States have begun implementing new Medicaid work rules requiring enrollees to log at least 80 hours per month of employment, education, or community service to maintain coverage, sparking concerns over widespread loss of benefits. Nebraska has become the first state to enforce these reporting requirements ahead of the January 1 national deadline, with projections indicating up to 7 million people could lose coverage nationwide by 2028. Patient advocacy groups and physician organizations, including the American College of Physicians, have raised alarms that the medical exemption process is overly restrictive and imposes excessive administrative burdens on doctors. These operational hurdles coincide with legal challenges and federal funding freezes, adding further pressure to state Medicaid systems.
