Imposing Medicaid Work Requirements Could Cause Many Adults With Substance Use Disorders To Lose Access To Treatment

The new Congress is actively debating whether to require Medicaid enrollees to meet certain work requirements or face disenrollment. Proponents argue that work requirements will improve enrollees’ self-sufficiency and financial stability by connecting them to jobs, as well as reduce Medicaid spending. Opponents counter that the policy risks stripping low-income and marginalized groups of their access to health care, since many will have trouble finding work that satisfies these requirements. Work requirements could thus pose risks to enrollees’ access to health care and accompanying risks to their health.

One group for which there is particular concern is the large number of Medicaid enrollees with substance use disorders (SUDs). Many in this group may have trouble finding jobs, due to...

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