Nick Begich Supported Tightening Medicaid Work-Requirements Even Though Doing So Would Disproportionately Threaten Health Care Coverage For Alaska Natives

Begich Supported “Tightening Work Requirements For Able-Bodied Medicaid Recipients.” “Alaska has some of the world’s highest healthcare costs. Reforms are needed to drive down the cost of healthcare. Political rhetoric isn’t going to do it. It’s going to require commitment, tenacity, and hard work. We need to explore price and cost innovations around direct primary care and preventative medicine while protecting patient-doctor relationships. We can find cost savings by increasing competition, negotiating prescription drug prices, and tightening work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients.” [Nick Begich for Congress, accessed 9/7/22]

Medicaid Work Requirements Would Disproportionately Threaten Health Care Coverage For Alaska Natives Because They “Are Likelier To Live In Areas With Limited Job Opportunities.” “Medicaid is an important source of coverage for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), a population that faces high unemployment and persistent health disparities, including a high uninsured rate, barriers to care, and significant physical and mental health needs. […] Taking away Medicaid from people not meeting work requirements will put coverage at risk for all people subject to these policies, but especially for AI/ANs, who are disproportionately likely to be unemployed. That’s because AI/ANs not only are likelier to live in areas with limited job opportunities, but also have other barriers to employment. The AI/AN unemployment rate averaged 11.3 percent from 2014 through 2018, almost 90 percent higher than the 6.0 percent rate for all other adults and higher than the unemployment rate for other adults in nearly all states. […] AI/ANs could be at disproportionate risk of losing coverage under a Medicaid work requirement, threatening their recent coverage and health outcome gains.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/10/20]

Lack Of Internet Access And Other Forms Of Red Tape May Make It Difficult For Alaska Natives “To Stay Covered Even If They Are Already Working Or Should Qualify For Exemptions.” “Requiring work or work-related activities as a condition of Medicaid eligibility would also make it harder for AI/ANs to stay covered even if they are already working or should qualify for exemptions. When Medicaid eligibility depends on completing specified hours of work activities each month, enrollees have to submit documentation each month to stay covered. AI/ANs may face particular barriers to manage this additional red tape. For example, Arkansas required enrollees to report compliance with work requirements only using the Internet; AI/ANs are disproportionately likely to live in rural areas and more likely than other enrollees to lack Internet access.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/10/20]