25 States and D.C. Sue to Block Trump Administration Medicaid Work Requirements

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts against the Trump administration's Medicaid work requirement rule. The complaint was brought by 23 Democratic attorneys general and the Democratic governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Kentucky and Pennsylvania have Republican attorneys general. The suit targets a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation that requires Medicaid beneficiaries to complete at least 80 hours per month of work or approved activities beginning no later than January 1. States must begin notifying recipients by August 31 about compliance options.

The complaint alleges that the rule exceeds statutory authority and was adopted without proper administrative procedure. It states that the rule unlawfully restricts exemptions for medically vulnerable recipients and conflicts with congressional intent by making it more difficult for individuals with illnesses to qualify for exemptions.

The complaint further alleges that CMS violated administrative procedure requirements by issuing a rule that differs from earlier guidance provided to states.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn the administration's rule governing eligibility exemptions tied to the work requirements. The complaint states that the rule will cause immediate and irreparable harm to state Medicaid programs, increase uncompensated emergency care and costs tied to newly uninsured residents, further strain safety net providers, and cause rural hospitals to be even more likely to shutter.

The Trump administration has stated that the work requirements are intended to direct public assistance toward eligible recipients while encouraging workforce participation.