A U.S. District Court judge has thrown out Medicaid work requirements in two states, saying they are “arbitrary and capricious.” Ohio is now reviewing its plan to impose work requirements on recipients of Medicaid expansion, which was just approved by the federal government two weeks ago.
Ohio Department of Medicaid notes in a statement that its work requirements differ from those in Arkansas and Kentucky, the two states in the lawsuit. Ohio’s plan is to require non-disabled Medicaid expansion recipients to work 20 hours a week if they're not over 50, caregivers, or in job training, college or community service.
Sally Pipes, president of the California-based conservative Pacific Research Institute, said the ruling won’t stop states from going forward with work requirements.
“Many of the cases that go through the court and overturn good legislation – or bad – end up in the Supreme Court, and I think that’s why a lot of states will continue to move forward with their Medicaid work requirement plans," Pipes said.
It’s estimated just over 109,000 Ohioans might be subject to work requirements.
The Trump administration approved a total of eight states for work requirements, with seven more states pending.
