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In Nebraska, Americans begin to lose Medicaid under Trump's work rules
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Nebraska will become the first state to remove Medicaid recipients who fail to meet new federal work requirements starting August 1, affecting roughly 200 people initially and potentially up to 30,000 over time.
- The new rules, mandated by a Trump-era budget law, require about 20 million people in 44 states to work, volunteer, attend school, or participate in job training for 80 hours per month to maintain Medicaid coverage, with exemptions for certain groups.
- Nebraska’s Medicaid director emphasized the state’s ability to verify compliance efficiently through its own eligibility system and highlighted efforts to ensure accurate implementation and prevent wrongful coverage loss.
- Critics argue that work requirements have not proven effective in increasing employment and that many affected individuals face confusion or administrative barriers, while Nebraska has faced challenges with outreach and Medicaid helpline accessibility.
- The state is coordinating with its labor department to help those losing coverage find employment and will closely monitor appeals and fair hearing requests as a measure of the policy’s impact.
