Alaskan lawmakers introduced two bills that would require Medicaid recipients to work to receive benefits, according to ctpost. Here are seven things to know:
1. Under the proposed requirements, Medicaid beneficiaries would be obligated to work, actively seek work, participate in a school or training program, volunteer or participate in subsistence activities for a minimum of 20 hours a week.
2. Exempt individuals would include children, anyone 65 or older and those whose medical circumstances prevent them from working.
3. Alaska's Medicaid program primarily consists of children, retired individuals, people with disabilities or people living in working households.
4. Monthly Medicaid enrollment in the state grew 23 percent on average from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017.
5. More than 40,000 Alaskans are covered by the state's Medicaid program that Gov. Bill Walker, I, expanded in 2015.
6. The house bill has been delegated to three committees, signaling it might have difficulty moving forward.
7. In January, CMS issued guidance permitting states to submit requests for work or community engagement requirements for Medicare. The government has approved requests for Kentucky and Indiana.