LANSING, Mich., April 15, 2021 — State Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) has introduced legislation that would remove the state’s Medicaid work requirement provisions passed by the Legislature in 2018. Rogers’ bill was introduced with bipartisan support and co-sponsorship.
House Bill 4645 comes on the heels of a recent Biden administration decision to rescind the waiver that had been granted to Michigan under former President Trump approving the work requirements. Last year, a federal judge blocked them from going into effect.
“As a health care provider, I have seen the devastating consequences of families having their health insurance ripped away just when they need it most,” said Rogers. “I fully support the Biden administration’s move to rescind the waiver that would have forced thousands of Michiganders to jump through unnecessary bureaucratic hoops to qualify for coverage and believe it is time to remove this dangerous language from state statute. I made a promise to my constituents that I would do everything in my power to eliminate this draconian law from the books and today, I am delivering on that promise. I believe access to affordable, quality health care is a right that everyone should have, regardless of their work status or income.”
The Healthy Michigan Plan, the state’s expansion of Medicaid passed under the Affordable Care Act in 2014, was a landmark bipartisan achievement. There are now more than 900,100 people enrolled in the program which has led to increases in primary care usage, reduced dependence on emergency rooms and many positive economic outcomes. Had the work requirement provisions been allowed to continue, tens of thousands of Michiganders could have lost their health insurance. Studies have shown Medicaid work requirements do not actually increase employment.
HB 4645 has been referred to the House Committee on Insurance.
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