Trump administration considers Medicaid work requirements in Virginia

The Trump administration will consider whether to approve work requirements for Virginia’s Medicaid expansion program, with the Department of Health and Human Services opening the proposal for public comment on Friday.

Virginia expanded eligibility for Medicaid this year to more low-income adults but needs approval from the Trump administration to impose work requirements.

The state has already begun enrolling people into the expanded program.

{mosads}Expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income adults was one of Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam’s top goals coming into office, but one he wasn’t able to achieve without the support of the state’s GOP legislature. Republicans agreed to support expansion if it came with work requirements. 

Under the proposal, some adults would initially be required to work 20 hours per month, increasing to 80 hours per month after one year, with certain exceptions. Failure to comply with the requirements would result in a suspension of benefits.

The Trump administration has approved work requirements in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Wisconsin, though Arkansas’s work requirements are being challenged in court.