Judge blocks N.H. Medicaid work requirement

A federal judge yesterday Medicaid work requirements in New Hampshire, as he did earlier this year in Kentucky and Arkansas. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in May authorized New Hampshire to require certain adults in its Medicaid premium assistance program to work or participate in other 鈥渃ommunity engagement鈥 activities, such as job training, at least 100 hours per month to remain eligible. 鈥淭he issues presented in this case are all too familiar,鈥 wrote U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. 鈥淚n the past year or so, this Court has resolved challenges to similar programs in Kentucky and Arkansas, each time finding the Secretary鈥檚 approval deficient. The overriding shortcoming in the agency鈥檚 decisions in those cases was its failure to adequately consider the requirements鈥 effects on Medicaid coverage. 鈥.Plaintiffs argue that the Secretary鈥檚 approval of New Hampshire鈥檚 plan suffers from the same deficiency and thus must meet the same fate. The Court concurs.鈥