The changes, which include the requirement to work or volunteer for 80 hours per month, go into effect at the start of 2027.
Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, said states remain in the dark procedurally while trying to gauge the potential loss of state workers and providers.
"Our Kentucky Medicaid department is still trying to understand how they'll implement these incredibly complicated new requirements and that's on top of state budget cuts to Medicaid that put us at risk of losing state workers and providers," Beauregard outlined.
According to the American Medical Association, the new rules are expected to increase healthcare costs and worsen patient access to care. Beauregard stressed the biggest concern is that people who are eligible for Medicaid are going to lose it because of increased paperwork and red tape.
If a person who is receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer is unable to work, Beauregard explained they will now have to prove their condition interferes with their ability to work and submit documents as proof. If they miss the paperwork deadline, they lose their coverage and their cancer treatment stops, or they go into medical debt.
"Because of the paperwork, because of the more frequent reporting requirements, and even our most vulnerable people who are medically frail, they have health conditions that can make it difficult to work consistently," Beauregard contended.
Kayla Harmon, a resident of Warren County, said the stakes are high for families already facing obstacles.
"We're doing the best we can with what we have. Sometimes we've got those barriers, like transportation's a barrier. How are we going to get to and from? Medications. We're doing everything that we can just to keep our head above water," Harmon pointed out.
An analysis from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy found the populations with the highest vulnerability to Medicaid cuts are all located in the state's eastern and southern counties.
