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Three people file lawsuit over Arkansas's Medicaid work requirement

Three people on Arkansas' expanded Medicaid program are suing to prevent the state from enforcing its new requirement that would drop coverage for them and thousands of others if they don't work.
Credit: Jaksuthep Teekul
(Credit: Thinkstock)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Three people on Arkansas' expanded Medicaid program are suing to prevent the state from enforcing its new requirement that would drop coverage for them and thousands of others if they don't work.

The federal lawsuit was filed in Washington Tuesday by three advocacy groups on behalf of the residents over the requirement, which the state began enforcing in June. The state said last month more than 7,000 people on the expansion program didn't meet a requirement that they report at least 80 hours of work in June and face the threat of losing their coverage if they fail to comply sometime before the end of the year.

Arkansas was the first state to implement a Medicaid work requirement. A federal judge in June blocked Kentucky from enforcing its Medicaid work requirement.

Below is Governor Asa Hutchinson's statement on the lawsuit:

“This lawsuit has one goal, which is to undermine our efforts to bring Arkansans back into the workforce, increase worker training, and to offer improved economic prospects for those who desire to be less dependent on the government.

“As for the process of reporting work, DHS is providing substantial assistance to anyone that has limited access to internet or who may encounter additional challenges. Our goal is to assist those in compliance so that their healthcare coverage continues; however, we must have an accountable system that does not leave thousands of able-bodied recipients on the Medicaid rolls who may not qualify for a whole host of reasons.

“This lawsuit comes as no surprise. It is particularly disappointing, though, when you consider that the group making the challenge is, in part, funded by federal taxpayer dollars. They have a consistent history of trying to thwart any effort to transform and bring accountability to our Medicaid program.”

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