In response to guidance issued by the Trump administration allowing states to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries, Congresswoman
The letter references several studies that demonstrate the adverse impact of imposing work requirements on low-income individuals. According to reports by the
"Health care is a human right that this government should not restrict or make conditional," wrote the lawmakers. "Denying coverage to those eligible for Medicaid will not encourage them to work, but would instead restrict their access to health care services and endanger their health. Please rescind this harmful and unprecedented guidance immediately."
See the full text of the letter below:
The Honorable
Administrator
"Dear Administrator Verma:
"We write to express our strong disapproval of the
"The Medicaid program was established by
"Numerous studies, including from the
"Imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients would not only be ineffective, it is also unnecessary. Many Medicaid recipients already work multiple low-paying jobs that do not afford them the ability to pay for even their most basic needs. According to the KFF, nearly 60 percent of working-age adults on Medicaid are already employed, mainly for employers that don't offer health insurance. Of those who are not working, most report reasons such as illness, caring for a family member, or going to school. Six percent express a desire to work but lack the ability to secure employment, and many say that enrolling in Medicaid has enabled them to improve their health enough to return to work. CMS has failed to provide any reliable evidence showing the efficacy of imposing work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries to promote Medicaid's objectives or reduce poverty. CMS has simply chosen to ignore research showing that restricting access to Medicaid would worsen outcomes for those reliant on the program.
"The imposition of work requirements not authorized by
"After reviewing
"Health care is a human right that this government should not restrict or make conditional. Denying coverage to those eligible for Medicaid will not encourage them to work, but would instead restrict their access to health care services and endanger their health. Please rescind this harmful and unprecedented guidance immediately.
"We look forward to your response.
"Sincerely,"
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