LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she plans to seek changes in a new work requirement that was accepted as part of the Healthy Michigan Medicaid plan by the Snyder Administration.
Whitmer notified the Federal Government on Friday that similar rules in Arkansas resulted in a number of recipients losing their coverage, and if Michigan enacted similar rules, as many as 183,000 of the state’s recipients could lose their coverage.
In a news release, Whitmer said .“As governor, I am committed to doing everything in my power to defend Healthy Michigan and protect coverage for the 680,000 Michiganders who rely on it for quality care.
That’s why I plan to take steps in the coming weeks to work with our partners in the legislature to change the Healthy Michigan Plan so that it preserves coverage, promotes work, reduces red tape and minimizes administrative costs.”
The new Senate Majority Leader is Mike Shirkey, who authored the work-requirement rules and says they are necessary.
They would require able-bodied recipients to work at least 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month, or be enrolled in a vocational education program to continue receiving coverage.
