Michigan Medicaid Work Requirement Challenged

Michigan’s Medicaid work requirement is being challenged in court by a group of state and national health care advocates.

The Healthy Michigan Plan rule is scheduled to take effect January 1st. It mandates that most recipients of the expanded Medicaid program show that they work at least 80 hours per month.

Exceptions are made for those with disabilities or medical conditions that prevent them from working; caregivers of children younger than age six, or children of any age who have disabilities; and pregnant women. Others between the ages of 19 and 61 will need to comply.

In September, Governor Gretchen Whitmer asked the state legislature to remove the requirement altogether. The legislature has made no move to do so.

Ironically, the lawsuit actually targets the federal government. The state needed to get a waiver from the Feds to implement the requirement. The suit is challenging that waiver.