A Medicaid Win for Our Community in Court
We have good news to share.
On October 29, a federal judge ruled that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) exceeded its authority when it added an extra hurdle to Medicaid’s “medically frail” exemption.
Under the law Congress passed, people with serious or complex medical conditions are supposed to be exempt from new Medicaid work requirements. CMS tried to add a provision to require them to prove they’re too sick to work 80 hours a month. The court said no.
For many people with ME/CFS and Long COVID, every extra paperwork burden could mean the difference between keeping and losing their health care. Read Politico article for more information.
The fight isn’t over. Work requirements still start January 1, other harmful parts of the rule remain, and CMS may appeal.
Here’s How to Get Involved
We need to continue to advocate for each state to add ME/CFS, Long COVID and related IACCs to their medically frail conditions list. State Medicaid agencies will need to make many other decisions that will either make the process of verifying medical frailty simpler or harder for the individual.
Here are three ways you can get involved today:
Do you have contacts at your state’s Department of Health? We are looking for warm contacts in many states so we can reach the right decision makers. Send tips to advocacy@meaction.net.
Want to advocate for Medicaid access at your state’s stakeholder meetings? States are holding meetings and webinars about work requirement implementation this fall. Visit this page - and click the link for your state to find out more. If you plan to attend a meeting, see our community campaign brief for talking points. Then, tell us about how the meeting went so we can track advocacy happening across the country.
Come to your state chapter’s meeting! Find your state or regional chapter meeting on this event page. Are you in a state without a chapter but want to get involved? Email advocacy@meaction.net.
Our Medicaid advocacy is one of the fronts we’re funding through Pace to the Capitol: Millions Missing 2027. If you can, please give today so we can keep showing up for our community.
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