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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
SENATES. 447· 119th Congress

Medicaid Work Requirements for Adults

Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act

Sponsor
John Kennedy (R-LA)
Introduced
Feb 6, 2025
Last Action
Feb 6, 2025
Passage
18%
Introduced
Feb 6, 2025
2
Committee
3
Floor Vote
4
Both Chambers
5
Enacted
01 — The Text

What.

  • Requires Medicaid recipients ages 18–65 to work or volunteer at least 20 hours weekly to keep coverage.
  • Exempts people with medical conditions, caregiving responsibilities, and other listed hardship situations.
  • Sets monthly average as the measurement standard for meeting the 20-hour threshold.
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Affects able-bodied Medicaid adults who can't meet work hours; they lose coverage unless exempt.
  • May reduce Medicaid enrollment and shift healthcare costs to uninsured or state-funded programs.
  • States currently have limited work requirement authority; this federalizes the requirement across all state Medicaid programs.
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Bill introduced in Senate on Feb. 6, 2025; referred to Finance Committee. Needs committee approval before floor vote.
  • Committee will debate scope of exemptions, implementation costs, and effects on coverage rates.
  • Contact your senators to share your position on whether work requirements should apply to Medicaid.
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Feb 6, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • Feb 6, 2025Introduced in Senate