6/29/2018

HHS/MEDICAID/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “A federal judge ruled Friday [6-29-18] that Kentucky cannot require certain Medicaid recipients to get jobs or lose their benefits. In a closely watched case, US District Court Judge James Boasberg voided the federal government’s approval of Kentucky’s request to implement work requirements and kicked the matter back to the Department of Health & Human Services for further review…The decision blocks the state — at least temporarily — from moving forward with its plan to launch its Medicaid overhaul on July 1. The ruling could also have national implications as the Trump administration seeks to implement work requirements in more federal programs for low-income Americans, particularly Medicaid. In addition to Kentucky, nearly a dozen other states have either already been granted waivers for Medicaid work requirements or are seeking them. Arkansas implemented its work requirement in June. Governor Matt Bevin, a Republican, has threatened to end Medicaid expansion if the state cannot proceed with the waiver. His administration did not immediately return a request for comment. The Department of Health & Human Services called the decision ‘disappointing.'”

-Tami Luhby, “Trump administration loses first court test of Medicaid work requirements,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 29, 2018 5:51 pm