Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is asking the federal government for a waiver to create work requirements for the state's Medicaid program, CBS affiliate KTHV reported Feb. 15.
The proposal would require people to work, go to school or volunteer to be eligible for ARHOME, the state's Medicaid program, according to the report.
In 2018, Arkansas became the first state to enact Medicaid work requirements, which led to about 18,000 adults losing coverage, according to the report. It required adults ages 30 to 49 to work 20 hours a week, volunteer or get an exemption.
In 2019, a federal judge ruled against the requirement — along with a similar requirement in Kentucky — which led to a restoration of benefits for most Arkansas residents who had lost coverage, according to the report.
Ms. Sanders said her proposal differs from the 2018 requirement because those who do not participate in the program would revert to fee-for-service coverage, the report said.