NE Florida News

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean and U.S. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman have introduced a bill aimed at reforming work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients. The proposed legislation targets able-bodied adults who are not in school and do not have dependents, with the intention of reducing government dependence, saving taxpayer money, and promoting fiscal responsibility.

Congressman Bean stated, "Work is an honorable enterprise, and it promotes a dignified pathway out of poverty. Yet today, there are more than 1.5 million able-bodied adults on Medicaid who are not working. We can’t keep asking hardworking Americans to pay for services for their neighbors who refuse to work." He emphasized that imposing these work requirements would enable working Americans to retain more of their earnings.

Congresswoman Hageman added that the requirements are designed to be both reasonable and flexible, offering various ways for beneficiaries to meet eligibility criteria. "By encouraging work, community service, or skill development," she said, "we can empower individuals to break free from the cycle of dependency and take control of their futures."

The number of people enrolled in Medicaid has surpassed 93 million while the labor force participation rate has decreased to 62.5%. Under this new legislation, able-bodied adults without dependents would need to engage in work-related activities such as employment, volunteering, schooling, or job training for at least 80 hours per month to qualify for Medicaid benefits.

The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated that similar requirements could save taxpayers $109 billion over ten years.