Proposal for Medicaid work requirements prompts concerns from advocates

SALT LAKE CITY — Advocates in Utah are concerned that recently proposed Medicaid work requirements will do more harm than good. 

State lawmakers are proposing a work requirement in an effort to incentivize work, saying this will increase a person’s sense of purpose and help build a healthy lifestyle.

But Voices for Utah Children Executive Director Moe Hickey disagrees.

Hickey said if the work requirement is implemented, the state will be taking away insurance from those who most need it.

“The majority of them, and this is referring nationally, the majority of them are either people with a disability, senior citizens or caregivers, who can’t work.”

Some exceptions to the Medicaid work requirements will be made, but the recipients must file the paperwork themselves.

An article Voices for Utah Children said that proving exemption will be especially difficult for people who don’t have a computer, internet access, or have low health literacy.

Hickey said this requirement would not remove costs and fraud from the system, as lawmakers intend. Instead, it will create bad health and economic outcomes across the state.

“What we’re doing is we’re taking insurance away from the most vulnerable part of our population.”