Full Citation
Title: Center for Health Policy Research Potential Effects of Work Requirements in Montana's Medicaid Program
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2019
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Abstract: In 2016, Montana expanded its Medicaid program under the Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act. Legislators are considering a bill, the Medicaid Reform and Integrity Act (MeRIA), to impose work requirements (“community engagement”) and terminate Medicaid insurance coverage if beneficiaries work less than 20 hours a week for three or more months. This analysis is based on a draft of the bill dated February 5, 2019. Work requirements could cause between 26,000 and 36,000 low-income adults to lose Medicaid coverage (30% to 41% of the 87,000 beneficiaries aged 19 to 59 years old). Analyses of Census data show that among those most likely to be terminated: • One-quarter (26%) are parents of minor children. • One-quarter (23%) have a dependent with a disability. • One-quarter (26%) are in school. • More than a third (37%) have seasonal employment and work six or more months of the year, but not enough to meet the requirements all year. • One-sixth (17%) lack internet access, reducing their ability to report their work hours or exemptions. • More than a third (37%) live in more rural areas of Montana. Because there may be fewer job opportunities in rural areas, rural Montanans may experience greater losses. • One-ninth (11%), or more than 3,000 adults, are Native Americans. These changes are especially problematic since Montana has already pioneered HELP-Link, its voluntary work promotion system for those on Medicaid, that has provided training and helped increase employment. HELP-Link has been viewed as a national leader. Those who lose insurance coverage will have worse access to . . .
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Authors: Ku, Leighton; Brantley, Erin
Publisher: The George Washington University
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Health, Other, Population Health and Health Systems
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