US agency issues guidance on Medicaid work requirements
The Trump administration is implementing significant policy changes across various sectors, including healthcare, employment, and technology. New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandates 80 hours of work per month for able-bodied Medicaid enrollees aged 19-64, effective January 1, 2027, with $200 million in grants for states. This initiative faces criticism from organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which fears it could jeopardize coverage for individuals with mental illness. Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order creating 'Schedule F' employment for approximately 8,000 federal workers, removing traditional job protections. Other actions include ending rebates for electric appliances, proposing student loan changes, and halting federal funding for Hawaii's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Protests have emerged against proposed healthcare cuts totaling $1 trillion from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which impacts Medicaid, Medicare, and public health programs.