Biden administration expected to rescind approval for state Medicaid work requirements

The Biden administration is planning today to wipe out one of the core health policies of the Trump era, taking actions that will immediately rescind permission for states to compel poor residents to work in exchange for receiving Medicaid benefits (Source: “Biden administration to move Friday to rescind Medicaid work requirements,” Washington Post, Feb. 11).

Federal health officials will withdraw their predecessors’ invitation to states to apply for approval to impose such work requirements. They also will notify 10 states granted permission, including Ohio, that it is about to be retracted, according to a draft plan obtained by The Washington Post and confirmed by two individuals familiar with the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The actions anticipated Friday, outlined in bullet points in the draft, will come two weeks after President Biden signed an executive order instructing officials to remove barriers to Medicaid coverage. Work requirements enabled under President Donald Trump were the one policy mentioned in Biden’s directive.