MACPAC asks HHS to pause Medicaid work requirements

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission yesterday urged the Department of Health and Human Services to pause disenrollments related to work requirements in Arkansas’ Medicaid program, and establish mechanisms to effectively evaluate and monitor work requirement demonstrations before allowing states to enforce them. “In summary, we are highly concerned about the disenrollment (and subsequent lockout) of 8,462 individuals in Arkansas from Medicaid coverage because they did not report work and community engagement activities,” the commission wrote. “The low level of reporting is a strong warning signal that the current process may not be structured in a way that provides individuals an opportunity to succeed, with high stakes for beneficiaries who fail.” In addition to Arkansas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved work and community engagement waivers for Kentucky, Indiana and Wisconsin, and 10 other states have submitted waiver applications. The Arkansas requirements are being challenged in court.