The Buckeye Institute has filed comments with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of Ohio’s 1115 Medicaid Work and Community Engagement Waiver application. This proposed waiver is designed to introduce work and education requirements for healthy adults under 55 who receive Medicaid benefits in the state.
Commenting on the proposal, Rea S. Hederman Jr., vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, stated, “Medicaid work and education requirements, which only apply to healthy working-age adults, help people stay connected to the workforce and find good paying jobs.” He also pointed to the potential financial benefits, noting, “The lifetime earnings for Medicaid recipients who work are significant, as The Buckeye Institute’s research has demonstrated.”
The institute’s research suggests that a young Medicaid recipient who finds a steady job and exits the program could amass nearly $1 million in earnings over their lifetime. Those who stay on Medicaid while employed could also substantially increase their lifetime earnings.
The institute has offered three recommendations to enhance Ohio’s waiver application:
1. **Improve Data Collection**: To ensure the accuracy of determining Medicaid eligibility and guarantee that eligible participants receive benefits, the state should upgrade its data collection system.
2. **Emphasize the Importance of Work**: The benefits of work include higher skills and wages. The application should highlight how additional work experience will provide long-term financial advantages for enrollees.
3. **Define “Employed”**: The application currently does not specify what qualifies someone as “employed.” The institute suggests defining it as working a minimum of 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month.
