Legislative Republicans Reject Call for Medicaid Work Requirement Delay

It didn’t take long for Republican leaders in the state legislature to reject Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request to delay implementation of the work requirement for Medicaid recipients.

The rule is still scheduled to take effect January 1st.

Medicaid recipients between the ages of 19 and 61 will need to show proof that they worked at least 80 hours each month to retain their benefits. Exceptions are made for those who are physically unable to work, pregnant women, and primary caregivers of children younger than age six, or disabled children of any age.

School and vocational training can also count toward the work requirement.

Officials estimate that the rule will affect 200,000 of Michigan’s 670,000 Medicaid participants.

Whitmer has called the rule “punitive.” She asked for the delay while it is being challenged in court, saying that millions of dollars spent to implement the program will be wasted if it’s overturned.