26 states file lawsuit to halt federal Medicaid work-requirement rule

Five New England states joined 21 others in a lawsuit filed Monday to stop a federal rule that would add work requirements to Medicaid. The states argue the new guidelines create an unfair bureaucratic maze for people who are entitled to coverage.

The rule, released this month, would require most Medicaid recipients ages 19 to 64 to prove they work, attend school or volunteer for at least 80 hours each month.

State officials say the requirement could cause hundreds of thousands of residents, including many in Massachusetts, to lose their health insurance and they are racing to meet a Jan 1 deadline for implementation.