Half of states sue Trump administration over Medicaid work rules

Key Points:

• Democrats in 25 states and the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the rules will block eligible Americans from accessing necessary healthcare.
• The lawsuit claims the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) exceeded the law’s intent by narrowly defining medical frailty, creating barriers for those with serious health conditions to qualify for exemptions.
• The new CMS rule requires Medicaid expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64 to work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 80 hours a month, with limited exemptions, and demands proof of medical frailty upon coverage renewal starting in 2028.
• States argue CMS’s sudden change in defining medical frailty disrupted their implementation plans and lacks clear guidance on compliance, prompting legal action to prevent coverage loss for vulnerable populations.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized that the rule threatens healthcare access for residents with disabilities, cancer, mental health conditions, or addiction, calling for protections against excessive administrative burdens.