Work requirements for Medicaid recipients, food assistance cuts and other measures in the budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would rearrange the U.S. social safety net

And what will they mean for the millions of low-income people who might lose health care benefits as a result?

House Republicans leaders are planning to accelerate new Medicaid work requirements to December 2026 in a deal with ultra-conservatives on the giant tax bill, according to a lawmaker familiar with the discussions.

A House Republican bill would require Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer or be enrolled in school for at least 80 hours a month.

Latest draft of House tax cut bill calls for starting Medicaid work requirements next year, up from 2029, according to Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).

The lawmakers on the joint Medicaid Review Panel focused much of the questioning around what lessons have been learned from the state’s current largest managed care contract — the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. The $1.4 billion contract with Magellan of Idaho was the largest in state history.

Over 90,000 Missourians could lose their Medicaid coverage under a proposal by Congressional Republicans to implement work requirements, according to a pair of recent studies of the plan.

Advocates of Medicaid work requirements overlook a plain truth: A healthy population is essential to a productive national workforce.