Say No to Medicaid Work Requirements

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a bill that would establish work requirements on Medicaid recipients. If this bill passes the Senate, "able-bodied" adults receiving Medicaid would need to work for at least 20 hours per week, look for a job, or participate in job training to qualify for Medicaid.

The "able-bodied" definition excludes full-time high school students, pregnant women, people receiving long-term disability benefits, people under 19 or older than 64, prisoners, and residents of mental health institutions.

Under this definition, however, people who lose their job or hours while getting treatment or recovering from surgery would not be covered. Neither would people who can't find a job because they can't access childcare or transportation. Qualified workers and people exempted from the requirements would still have to submit paperwork and medical verification, which will take time and cost money to the Commonwealth.

Take Action:

• Sign on to a letter from the Pennsylvania Health Access Network opposing the bill.
• In addition to the work requirements for Medicaid, another bill in the House would establish new requirements on SNAP. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has a sign-on letter opposing both.
• Call your legislators now and ask them to oppose work requirements on SNAP and Medicaid. Here's some sample language: "Hi, my name is ____ and I live in Senator/Representative _____'s district. I am calling today to oppose work requirements to SNAP and Medicaid. This change to Pennsylvania law would impose burdens on Pennsylvanians and on state government."