STAT+: 26 states sue to block Medicaid work requirements

STAT PlusInsurance 26 states sue to block Medicaid work requirements President Trump’s tax cut bill imposed new work requirements on many adults covered by Medicaid Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Jason Laughlin — Boston GlobeJune 29, 2026 Five New England states are among 26 that sued the federal government on Monday to block work requirements for Medicaid enrollees that are expected to cost hundreds of thousands of people in Massachusetts their health insurance. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont joined other states arguing the guidelines released this month create an unfair bureaucratic maze for people entitled to receive Medicaid coverage. The new rules are also causing turmoil in states trying to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement the requirements.Advertisement The new rules require most Medicaid recipients between the ages of 19 and 64 to prove they work, attend school, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — and get additional analysis of the financial innards of our health care system — 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 Congress, Medicaid, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Jason Laughlin — Boston Globe Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Biotech June 30, 2026 STAT Plus: Anthropic releases Claude Science, a product aimed at researchers, the pharma industry Health June 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Longevity, wellness physicians named to panel advising FDA on peptides Advertisement Pharma June 25, 2026 STAT Plus: Democrats press White House on who got special access to Eli Lilly’s new obesity drug Business June 24, 2026 STAT Plus: U.S. health spending rose sharply in 2025, thanks to GLP-1 use and more care Health tech June 23, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA drops enforcement against Whoop after it tweaks blood pressure feature Subscriber Picks