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Work Requirements and Medicaid Enrollments: Will States Stanch Erosion?

Michael K. Gusmano & Frank J. Thompson

Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law2026https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-12513828article
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0.50

Abstract

The enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025 has introduced rigorous Medicaid work requirements, sparking projections of significant coverage losses for millions of low-income Americans. This essay examines the administrative and political dynamics that will determine whether states can mitigate this enrollment erosion. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that eligibility provisions, particularly work mandates for the Affordable Care Act's expansion population, will account for the majority of projected federal savings. We identify five primary "coping strategies" states may utilize to stanch declines, including expanding ex parte (automatic) determinations, limiting "look-back" periods for work history, and aggressively documenting "medically frail" exemptions. Implementation is expected to follow a pattern of partisan federalism, where Democratic-led states prioritize take-up practices to maintain coverage, while Republican jurisdictions may adopt policies-such as frequent eligibility reviews and monthly premiums-that exacerbate declines. Ultimately, the Trump administration's approach to federal compliance, financial support for systems development, and the approval of restrictive waivers will be pivotal in shaping the law's long-term impact on the Medicaid safety net.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-12513828

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@article{michael2026,
  title        = {{Work Requirements and Medicaid Enrollments: Will States Stanch Erosion?}},
  author       = {Michael K. Gusmano & Frank J. Thompson},
  journal      = {Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-12513828},
}

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Work Requirements and Medicaid Enrollments: Will States Stanch Erosion?

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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