The phased-in Medicaid changes, some coming from the federal level under 2025's signature GOP tax and spending bill, are being rolled out, in part, through House Bill 2 in Kentucky.
Next on the calendar is a new provision dubbed "community engagement." Rep. Ken Fleming told Spectrum News it applies to a particular group of Medicaid recipients.
"We want to identify those who need the services, the Medicaid benefits and so forth. And if they are able to work and they're not working and taking the benefits, we need to look at those situations," he said.
Specifically, the new requirement applies to adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who are not pregnant, in postpartum, disabled, or are caretakers of children under 14.
Under the bill, those recipients would need to meet an 80-hours-per-month work threshold to continue receiving benefits. Community engagement is defined as employment, participation in work programs or community service, or education programs — or a combination of those options.
The provision takes effect in Kentucky July 15.