蜜柚直播 is closer to adding work requirements for some low-income people on AHCCCS after the Trump administration said Thursday that it will allow states 鈥 for the first time 鈥 to require 鈥渁ble-bodied鈥 Medicaid recipients to work.
蜜柚直播 is one of 10 states that have submitted applications to add work requirements for the government health insurance program for low-income people.
The state鈥檚 Medicaid program, which is called the 蜜柚直播 Health Care Cost Containment System or AHCCCS, submitted its on Dec. 19 to the federal government鈥檚 The 蜜柚直播 application calls for adding both work requirements and five-year lifetime limits on Medicaid enrollment.
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The changes would apply to 鈥渁ble-bodied鈥 adults, who are physically and mentally capable of working and not medically frail, the application says.
The application clarifies some language about who would be exempt from the work requirements and the lifetime limits. State officials added more exemptions and specifics to the application after holding public forums and a public comment period which yielded
Homeless people, former foster children and American Indians are among individuals who would be exempt from 蜜柚直播鈥檚 proposed Medicaid work requirements, the state鈥檚 application says.
The proposed 蜜柚直播 policy change originated with a state law passed in 2015 by legislators who say work requirements incentivize people to gain financial independence from government support and are also critical to maintain Medicaid鈥檚 viability.
Critics worry that kicking people off Medicaid for not having a job will penalize a small number of vulnerable 蜜柚直播ns, and force them to get care in emergency rooms, which in the end is more costly for the health-care system.
The U.S. Medicaid program has grown by double digits in states like 蜜柚直播 that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
The latest 蜜柚直播 numbers show 1.8 million 蜜柚直播ns 鈥 one in every four state residents 鈥 currently has health coverage through Medicaid. Nearly 300,000 Pima County residents are covered by AHCCCS.
A on 蜜柚直播鈥檚 683-page application is open through Feb. 5.
AHCCCS officials say the waiver request is designed to provide low-income, able-bodied adults 鈥渢he tools needed to gain and maintain meaningful employment, job training, and education.鈥
蜜柚直播ns who don鈥檛 qualify for an exemption would have to work, be actively looking for work, or be in school or job training for at least 20 hours per week. In certain cases, community service hours may substitute for work, the application says.
Included on the of 蜜柚直播ns who would be exempt from work requirements are people younger than 19 and older than 55; victims of domestic violence; individuals with serious mental illness; American Indians; people who are homeless; former foster youths up to the age of 26; pregnant women; full-time students; people recently impacted by a death or catastrophic event; and caregivers of a family member enrolled in the 蜜柚直播 Long Term Care System, the application states.
鈥淲e are 鈥榠n the queue鈥 for CMS鈥 review and response,鈥 AHCCCS spokeswoman Heidi Capriotti wrote in an email. 鈥淲ith their approval, the work of systems development and design would begin within six months.鈥
Full operational implementation will depend upon many variables yet to be finalized, she said.
Contact health reporter Stephanie Innes at 573-4134 or email sinnes@tucson.com. On Twitter: @stephanieinnes
