Missouri Rural Crisis Center Opines on Protecting Medicaid, Work Requirements in The Hill

Missouri Rural Crisis Center’s Christi Lero is featured in a recent The Hill article, “Hawley stakes ground as chief GOP defender of Medicaid,” commenting on Sen. Josh Hawley’s vocal opposition to Medicaid cuts proposed in the House-passed budget bill. 

Hawley’s stance is evolving as Republicans debate the future of Medicaid, particularly provisions that would gut funding, impose work requirements and penalize expansion states like Missouri, where 1.3 million people receive Medicaid benefits, including 350,000 Missourians covered by Medicaid expansion. While Hawley frames his position as a defense of rural hospitals and working-class constituents, Lero warns that his support for work requirements undermines those claims. 

“These job requirements are really just a different avenue to cut Medicaid,” Lero said. “And we know that.”

The House budget reconciliation bill would impose harsh work requirements on Medicaid expansion applicants and current enrollees. While some exemptions would be allowed, other states have shown that these policies don’t increase employment; instead, they result in eligible people losing health coverage due to administrative errors and bureaucratic red tape. Over 90,000 Missourians are expected to lose health coverage under this bill, even though nearly 90% are already working or exempt due to disability, caregiving responsibilities, or school enrollment. 

Read the full article.