STAT+: Trump’s Medicaid work requirements have an unwelcome surprise for some states and patients

STAT PlusPolitics Trump’s Medicaid work requirements have an unwelcome surprise for some states and patients New rules will make it far harder to get Medicaid and stay covered Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara Bannow, Chelsea Cirruzzo, and Daniel PayneJune 3, 2026 Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70.Chelsea Cirruzzo[email protected]Chelsea covers the Department of Health and Human Services with a particular focus on power and influence at the top. Confidential tips can be sent via Signal at chelseacirruzzo.42.Daniel Payne[email protected]Daniel covers the intersection of the health industry and the federal government. He reports on corporate influence in government, the health consequences of federal policies, and the politics of health care. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at danielp.100. Medicaid leaders and advocates say they’re shocked by the Trump administration’s harsh directives for implementing Medicaid work requirements, which they say mark a pivot from how federal officials had characterized their plans just weeks ago. Much of the conversation around the nearly 400-page rule that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released Monday afternoon centers on one of the ways that people can be exempted from work requirements: medical frailty. Getting that exemption will be more difficult than most people had expected, meaning that more sick and disabled people are likely to lose their Medicaid coverage. Advertisement “This is where we’ll see large and harmful coverage losses,” said Benjamin Sommers, an economics professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. “This is a population that has high medical needs and is at major risk for harm if they lose coverage. That is the headline implication of the new rule.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In CMS, Congress, disability, Medicaid, patients, Policy, public health, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Tara Bannow Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Chelsea Cirruzzo Washington Correspondent Chelsea covers the Department of Health and Human Services with a particular focus on power and influence at the top. Confidential tips can be sent via Signal at chelseacirruzzo.42. Daniel Payne Washington Correspondent Daniel covers the intersection of the health industry and the federal government. He reports on corporate influence in government, the health consequences of federal policies, and the politics of health care. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at danielp.100. Newsletter The latest updates in federal health agencies, research institutes, and U.S. policy Recommended The Readout June 3, 2026 STAT Plus: Legend Biotech emerged as a rare market winner First Opinion June 3, 2026 The medical-billing AI arms race between providers and insurance Advertisement The Readout June 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Radiopharmaceutical shows promise in post-Pluvicto setting Health Care Inc. Newsletter June 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Medicare’s mum on GLP-1s, and Massachusetts sues United The Readout June 1, 2026 STAT Plus: A turning point for pancreatic cancer patients Subscriber Picks