BY PETER
SULLIVAN - 07/18/18 05:40 PM EDT 97
The Trump
administration is taking a new step forward on its plan to impose work
requirements in Kentucky’s Medicaid program, despite a federal judge blocking
the move last month.
The federal Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said Wednesday that it is going to
reopen a new 30-day comment period on Kentucky’s plan. The move could allow the
administration to show that it is giving further consideration to concerns
about the proposal, after the judge ruled that officials did not give adequate
consideration to the coverage losses that could result.
Work requirements for
Medicaid are a top priority of the Trump administration, as well as CMS
Administrator Seema Verma, and the move shows that officials are trying to find
a way forward, rather than backing down in the face of the judge’s ruling.
“CMS is planning to
open a new 30-day federal public comment period on the KY HEALTH demonstration
to better inform any future decision on the demonstration that was remanded
back to the Department for further review,” a CMS spokesperson said.
Politico first reported the move from CMS on
Wednesday.
Judge James Boasberg
of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled last month that
the administration did not adequately consider the state’s estimates that
95,000 people would lose coverage due to the work requirements.
If the administration’s
new move to open a new comment period does not address the judge’s concerns,
officials can also appeal the decision to a higher court.
The Trump
administration argues that “able-bodied” adults on Medicaid should have to work
to receive benefits.
Democrats counter that
the requirements simply cause people to lose coverage, including those who do
work but who get caught up in bureaucratic hurdles trying to prove they meet
the requirements.
Four states, Kentucky,
Indiana, New Hampshire, and Arkansas, currently have been approved by the
administration for Medicaid work requirements, with others hoping to move
forward as well.
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