Morrisey praises new 2027 Medicaid requirements while others raise concerns

WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — Starting next year, work requirements will be part of Medicaid qualifications for more than 100,000 recipients in West Virginia.

It’s a move Gov. Patrick Morrisey has applauded, noting that the state has the lowest workforce participation rate in the country at around 54.3%, just below the national average of 62%.

“There will be more people under work requirements soon,” Morrisey said in a press conference Monday. “That’s good. Work is good. Work is noble. We want people to have purpose in their lives. That’s what we’re getting toward.”

The rule was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and it requires people who are ages 19-64 that are part of Medicaid expansion to meet an 80 hours per month work requirement. This can be done through employment, education, work programs or community service.

“These stricter requirements are going to make it more difficult for people to qualify for medical frailty,” West Virginia Citizen Action Group organizing manager Mindy Holcomb said. “We could have people who have serious conditions that should prevent them from working and being forced to go out into the work forced to work. That’s dangerous.”

With only seven months until this takes effect, people pushing back said the ruling is not clear and it overlooks a large majority of recipients.

“Are these people taking care of loved ones who are sick or ill? We have an aging population and we have a sick population and I don’t think any of that has been taken into account and to the fact that we also have grandparents who are caring for grandchildren,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb said this is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist and with the tight deadline, she said many recipients may lose their coverage without even knowing.

“I’m going to be very frank with you – it could be deadly,” she said. “If you make one mistake on that form you can lose your healthcare and that’s a done deal. It is a false narrative that this is going to solve any Medicaid issues.”

Holcomb added that she wants to see lawmakers put more work and time into this rule to ensure nobody slips through the cracks.

“People aren’t sitting at home collecting checks,” she said. “Nobody gets a check from Medicaid. This is all reimbursement to providers. This is healthcare.”