Kentucky Becomes First State to Win Approval for Medicaid Work Requirements
- BY FGA
FGA Applauds Bevin Administration’s Commitment to Move People from Welfare to Work
Naples, FL – The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) congratulates Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin for becoming the first governor to win approval for Medicaid work requirements.
Today, the Trump administration approved Gov. Bevin’s request to implement commonsense work requirements for Medicaid, mirroring requirements found in the food stamp program. Kentucky’s approval comes just one day after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance for states wishing to implement the reform.
Under the waiver, able-bodied adults will now be required to work, train, or volunteer 20 hours per week. Research shows that work requirements for able-bodied adults in other welfare programs led to more employment, higher incomes, and less time on welfare when implemented.
Kentucky currently has nearly 650,000 able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid, many of whom have no earned income, meaning they don’t work at all. The growing number of able-bodied adults on the program has led to skyrocketing costs, now totaling $4.5 billion per year, that puts funding for all other state priorities, including education, public safety, and services for the most vulnerable at risk.
“Gov. Bevin has been a leader in welfare reform, and his administration’s commitment to lift people out of dependency and preserve funds for the truly needy through Medicaid work requirements should be applauded,” said Tarren Bragdon, CEO and President of FGA. “Kentucky’s adoption of this commonsense reform is a model for the nation, and we look forward to working with Gov. Bevin, the Trump administration, and other states to move millions of Americans from welfare to work.”
The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non–profit, multi–state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and regulatory reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.
###
