The Trump administration on Monday approved Arkansas’ plan to require thousands of people on its Medicaid expansion to work or volunteer, making Arkansas the third state allowed to impose such restrictions on coverage for the poor.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the requirement for Arkansas’ program, which uses Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents. More than 285,000 people are on the Arkansas program, which was created as an alternative to expanding traditional Medicaid under the federal health law.
Hutchinson was joined for the announcement by Seema Verma, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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The Trump administration in January said it would allow states to impose work requirements on Medicaid. It has already approved proposals from Kentucky and Indiana. Arkansas’ proposal will not affect those on its traditional Medicaid program.