Kentucky’s Medicaid program is back in court. At the center of a federal lawsuit is a change requiring some Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours a month.
A federal judge blocked it last June days before it was supposed to go into effect.
In his decision, judge James Boasberg said the federal government never considered the negative impact of the changes on Kentucky residents’ health, as they’re required to by law.
Kentucky’s program went back to the government for review. It was re-approved in November, with essentially no changes.
In response, a handful of legal advocacy groups filed an amended complaint Monday.
Sam Brooke, deputy legal director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the government still hasn’t taken into account the decrease in coverage these changes will bring.
"They’ve slightly tinkered with some of their rationales in the hopes that that will convince the federal judge they’ve meaningfully considered this," Brooke said. "But in truth they have not."
The same federal judge will likely rule in the case by April 1. That’s the day the requirements will be gradually introduced.
A spokesperson for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which oversees Medicaid in the state, couldn’t be reached for comment.
