By Steven Ross Johnson
May 7, 2018 - Modern Healthcare
The CMS on Monday gave New Hampshire the green light to impose work rules for
some adult Medicaid recipients. It's the fourth state to win approval for that
requirement.
The state's Medicaid 1115 waiver will require adult
beneficiaries between the ages of 19 and 64 to participate in 100 hours of
"community engagement activities" a month to maintain eligibility for coverage.
Community engagement is defined as having a job, being enrolled in school,
participating in job skills training, or performing some sort of community
service.
"Today's announcement by the CMS … is a transformative step
towards a more thriving workforce," Gov. Chris Sununu said in a written
statement. "Work requirements help lift able-bodied individuals out of poverty
by empowering them with the dignity of work and self-reliability while also
allowing states to control the costs of their Medicaid programs—we are committed
to helping more people get into the workforce, as it is critical not only for
individuals but also for our economy as a whole."
In 2014, New
Hampshire's Medicaid expansion program expanded to include those earning up to
138% of the poverty level. But state Republicans have always asked for a work
requirement. The Obama administration denied that request in 2016.
New Hampshire joins
Arkansas, Indiana and Kentucky in implementing the work rules. Waivers in six
other states are pending approval.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's
administration in February concluded that adding work rules to its Medicaid
program would cost an extra $100 million in administrative expenses by the
second year of implementation.
"I congratulate Governor Sununu's
commitment to join me in improving the lives of Medicaid beneficiaries by
creating a crucial link to work and community engagement," CMS Administrator
Seema Verma said in a released statement. "The Trump Administration has helped
create one of the strongest job markets in our nation's history and we want to
make sure able-bodied, working age adults receive the necessary skills to join
our growing workforce."