Arizona applies to add work requirements, lifetime limits to Medicaid

Arizona submitted a new Section 1115 waiver to add work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit to its Medicaid program, according to The Hill.

If CMS approves the waiver, residents of Arizona who qualify for Medicaid and are between the ages of 19 and 55 must work, be a student, or attend employment support or development programs for a minimum of 20 hours per week, according to the report. They would have six months after approval to meet the requirement. Some groups are exempted, such as American Indians, domestic violence victims, homeless people and people with serious mental illness. However, Arizona estimates approximately 400,000 residents would be subject to the requirements, according to the report.

The waiver would also add a lifetime limit on Medicaid enrollment for "able-bodied" residents, meaning any able-bodied Arizonan would have to find health insurance coverage outside of Medicaid after five years of enrollment.

The state previously applied for a similar waiver, but it was rejected, according to the report. This time, Arizona is more likely to succeed, as CMS Administrator Seema Verma has indicated the current administration supports and will approve waivers with work requirements.

Read more here.

 

More articles on payer issues:

Molina Healthcare to lay off 60 employees this month
BCBS of Kansas names CEO
Anthem's year in review: 5 biggest stories from 2017

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.