Adding a Work Requirement to Medicaid Could Hurt Kentucky's Economy

Under a recently approved waiver, Kentucky will require an estimated 350,000 able-bodied Medicaid beneficiaries to work, complete job training, or volunteer in order to maintain their coverage. Kentucky argues that the program will increase labor force participation and makes economic sense. However, New York University’s Sherry Glied and Sara Snowden say on To the Point that not only are such work requirements unlikely to lead to any meaningful increase in people who work, they are likely to hurt the state’s economy.