Federal Judge Halts Strict Medicaid Work Requirement Regulations

A federal judge blocked rules narrowing Medicaid work requirement exemptions following a lawsuit from 25 states.

A federal judge blocked the administration from enforcing strict Medicaid work rules that narrowed exemptions for vulnerable patients. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ruled the administration's definition of medically frail unlawful, granting an injunction sought by 25 states. The regulation stemmed from recent federal legislation enacted last year.

• The rulingA federal judge issued a temporary injunction preventing states from having to determine medical frailty under the contested guidance.
• The plaintiffsTwenty-five states challenged the regulation in June, arguing it would cause very sick individuals to lose health coverage.
• The legislationThe contested guidance is tied to the 2025 federal law commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

What's new · 1h agoAdditional reporting confirmed the preliminary injunction details and the judge's reasoning regarding the unlawful definition of medical frailty.