Kentucky's 1115 Waiver Review Stretched Out By Concerns Over Work Requirement

Medicaid experts say CMS' delay in approving the Kentucky Medicaid waiver is likely linked to agency concerns over responding to critics of the state's proposed work requirement as well as local concerns over implementing proposed changes, but they expect a final approval coming from CMS soon. Kentucky submitted a demonstration waiver request, Kentucky HEALTH, in August 2016 that included “community engagement requirement,” a work requirement that would require Kentucky Medicaid beneficiaries to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per...