States need more time to prep for Medicaid work requirements, top Dems in Congress say

WASHINGTON — Two top Democrats in Congress are calling on the Trump administration to delay new requirements for people on Medicaid, arguing there is not enough time for states to prepare before the change takes effect on Jan. 1. House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone Jr., of New Jersey, and Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden, of Oregon, wrote in a letter released Thursday that officials must use their “discretion to give states additional time to implement work reporting requirements and protect eligible beneficiaries from losing coverage.” The two lawmakers, who will become chairmen in early January when Democrats regain control of Congress, added that failure “to permit states to delay implementation despite known operational deficiencies will worsen preventable coverage losses for which Congressional Democrats will hold the Trump Administration accountable.” Medicaid and the ‘big, beautiful’ law Republicans included several changes to…

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