The state’s Medicaid program is seeking public comment on a proposal to institute work requirements for able-bodied adults 19 to 55 years old and a lifetime limit of five years for Medicaid benefits. Enrollees would need to work at least 20 hours per week to receive benefits, or participate in other qualifying activities.
The state is accepting public comments through March 20.
At least four other states are pushing to implement work requirements for their Medicaid programs, and some lawmakers and officials have floated implementing requirements at the federal level.
President Donald Trump backed Medicaid work requirements during his first administration. During his first term in office, 13 states chose to implement work requirements in their Medicaid programs, according to KFF. The Biden administration later withdrew these waivers.
Lawmakers have proposed implementing work requirements at the federal level in the past. In 2023, House Republicans included work requirements in a bill to raise the debt ceiling. The requirements were later struck from the bill. Another work requirements bill was filed in February.
Currently, Georgia is the only state with Medicaid work requirements in place. The program, which launched in 2023, grew slower than the state projected. There are 4,300 enrollees, the Georgia Recorder reported in July far from the state’s estimate that 25,000 people would enroll in its first year.
