Advocates Urge Protection of Medicaid Amid Cutback Concerns
WHO:
KSL.com - Brenda Oluwalana, a single mother of five and Medicaid recipient.
KSL.com - Lorena Horse, CEO of Sacred Circle Healthcare.
KSL.com - Nate Crippes, public affairs supervising attorney at the Disability Law Center.
NPR - Drew Gonshorowski, Nebraska's Medicaid director.
WHAT:
KSL.com - The Protect Medicaid Coalition is opposing a proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that narrows the group of those exempt from new work requirements due to being "medically frail."
KSL.com - Sacred Circle clinics have seen about a 20% reduction in Medicaid appointments in recent years.
KFF Health News - The Department of Justice issued a legal opinion stating that federal disability rights laws do not require states to provide services that allow people with disabilities to remain in their homes rather than institutions.
KFF Health News - Advocacy groups warn that legal protections for about 40 million adults and 5 million children with disabilities could be undermined by the DOJ's new interpretation.
KSL.com - The Protect Medicaid Coalition is opposing proposed federal regulations that would create stricter work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
KSL.com - A report from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 7.5 million Americans could lose healthcare coverage due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by 2034.
NPR - Nebraska will remove approximately 200 individuals from Medicaid for failing to meet new work requirements starting August 1.
NPR - Under new federal rules, about 20 million people in 44 states will need to work or volunteer 80 hours per month to maintain their Medicaid benefits.
NPR - Estimates suggest that between 3 million and 8.6 million people could lose coverage due to the new requirements by 2028, including an estimated 30,000 in Nebraska.
WHERE:
KSL.com - Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and the Deep Creek Indian Reservation in western Tooele County, Utah.
NPR - Nebraska.
WHEN:
NPR - The new work requirements must be implemented by January 1.
NPR - Coverage removal for some Nebraskans begins on August 1.
WHY:
KFF Health News - Advocacy groups express concern that the DOJ opinion may lead to a return to forced institutionalization for people with disabilities.
KSL.com - Advocates argue that the proposed rule could increase barriers for individuals obtaining and maintaining coverage, leading to more uninsured individuals.
NPR - Supporters of the work requirements believe they will help individuals move toward economic stability and save the federal government $325 billion over 10 years.
HOW:
KFF Health News - Some states with ongoing lawsuits challenging disability rights requirements are citing the DOJ opinion to support their cases.
KSL.com - The Protect Medicaid Coalition is conducting press conferences and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the potential cuts and their impacts.
NPR - Nebraska's Medicaid director stated that the state has implemented extra steps to review denials multiple times before they are finalized to prevent individuals from falling through the cracks.
(UPDATED July 31, 2026 20:23 UTC)
The Protect Medicaid Coalition is opposing a proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that would narrow the exemptions for those deemed "medically frail" under new work requirements. Advocacy groups are raising alarms that a recent legal opinion from the Department of Justice could undermine protections for approximately 40 million adults and 5 million children with disabilities, potentially leading to a return to forced institutionalization. Some states currently involved in lawsuits challenging disability rights are using this DOJ opinion to bolster their arguments.
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(UPDATED July 31, 2026 19:30 UTC)
The Protect Medicaid Coalition is actively opposing proposed federal regulations that would impose stricter work requirements on Medicaid recipients, with advocates warning that this could lead to increased barriers to healthcare coverage. Starting August 1, Nebraska will begin removing approximately 200 individuals from Medicaid for not meeting these new requirements, which will require about 20 million people in 44 states to work or volunteer 80 hours per month to keep their benefits. Supporters of the work requirements argue they will help individuals achieve economic stability and potentially save the federal government $325 billion over the next decade.