Medicaid Work Requirements Lead to Millions Losing Coverage, Strain Rural Health Systems

Recent analyses and reports highlight significant concerns about proposed Medicaid work requirements and cuts in coverage, particularly in rural and low-income areas like Arkansas and Kentucky. A Georgetown University study emphasizes that nearly a third of pregnant women in rural Arkansas rely on Medicaid, which is critical for maternal and infant health, but these populations face heightened challenges due to provider shortages and hospital closures. House Republicans propose expanding Medicaid work requirements, mandating able-bodied adults to work or engage in related activities for at least 80 hours monthly, potentially removing millions from coverage to reduce federal spending, a move criticized as ineffective and detrimental by health policy experts. The Urban Institute warns that more than six million people could lose coverage under such requirements, which have not been shown to increase employment but instead create barriers to healthcare access and economic hardships, including job losses in healthcare sectors like those projected in Kentucky. Previous attempts in Arkansas to implement work requirements resulted in thousands losing coverage without employment gains, further questioning the policy's efficacy and its impact on vulnerable populations. Experts argue that Medicaid cuts and work mandates risk worsening healthcare access, increasing uninsured rates, and straining local economies, especially in states with high Medicaid dependency.