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Senate concurrent resolution urging federal Medicaid work requirements draws questions on practicality and impact
Summary
Senator Kaler asked the House Medicaid Committee to endorse SCR 5 urging the White House and CMS to reinstate work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid expansion adults under 55; members raised concerns about definitions, childcare, averaging hours, and projected savings.
Senator Kaler testified before the House Medicaid Committee in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, which asks the president and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow states to reinstate work requirements for able-bodied adults under age 55 who receive Medicaid expansion benefits.
Kaler told the committee the Ohio Department of Medicaid estimates that in calendar year 2026 about 61,826 individuals could be considered not exempt and not currently working. He framed the resolution as a request for CMS to reinstate an 80-hours-per-month requirement (commonly described as 20 hours per week) and said the intent is to encourage employment, training, and education, not to punish those with disabilities or pregnant women, who would remain on traditional Medicaid.
Committee members pressed practical questions. Representative Hall asked how "able-bodied" would be defined; Kaler said disabilities, aged/blind, and pregnant women are covered by other programs and that enrollment in rehab or training counts toward the hours. Representative Simani and others asked whether hours could be averaged over multiple weeks; Kaler responded that the resolution asks CMS to reinstate existing federal rules and the committee cannot set federal averaging policy.
Several members raised concerns about the measure's effects on families and low-wage workers. Representative Lett said job searching and childcare constraints can make it difficult for parents to meet hourly requirements; Kaler and Chair Gross noted that job searching, training, and education would count toward the requirement. Representative Simone asked about fiscal implications, referencing a claim in the hearing that removing 62,000 people could save roughly $7 million per year; Kaler said the proposal is aimed at workforce reentry rather than cost savings.
Kaler cited OhioMeansJobs' listings of about 150,000 open positions as part of the argument that work or training opportunities exist. He concluded by asking the committee to support SCR 5; committee members asked clarifying questions but the transcript records no committee vote on the resolution during the hearing.
The hearing closed after members finished questions and the committee adjourned.
