What Administrative Changes Can Trump Make to Medicaid?
KFF November 8, 2024
With Donald Trump returning to the presidency, the future of Medicaid is uncertain. While Medicaid did not receive a lot of attention directly during the campaign, Trump’s first term can shed light on potential changes that could be implemented administratively without Congress.
1. Trump administration could encourage and approve Medicaid waivers to advance priorities, including work requirements.
The previous Trump administration’s Section 1115 waiver policy emphasized work requirements, other eligibility restrictions, and capped financing. The Trump administration approved 13 waivers that allowed states to condition Medicaid eligibility on meeting work and reporting requirements and also approved waivers that restricted eligibility, including by permitting states to charge premiums and lock out enrollees who are disenrolled for unpaid premiums. Although previous work...