health
Nebraska becomes first U.S. state to enact Medicaid work requirements
Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 1:17 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Nebraska is the first state to enact Medicaid work requirements, ahead of the federal Jan. 1, 2027 deadline.
- The new rules apply to about 70,000 Medicaid expansion enrollees in Nebraska.
- Experts predict up to 25,000 Nebraskans (36% of those affected) may lose coverage due to the requirements.
- Proponents, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Jim Pillen, believe the requirements reduce 'fraud, waste and abuse' and promote 'self-sufficiency'.
- The requirements mandate 80 hours of work or community service per month, with exemptions for medical issues, pregnancy, and caregiving.
- Concerns exist about implementation challenges, such as defining 'medically frail' and clarifying exemption criteria.
- Previous attempts in Arkansas and Georgia had limited success in boosting employment and resulted in significant coverage losses and high costs.
- Other states like Iowa and Montana are also planning to implement similar requirements.