Ohio and Wisconsin brace for new Medicaid work requirements

Ohio is preparing to enforce federal Medicaid work requirements that will take effect by Jan. 1, 2027. Adults aged 19‑64 will need to document 80 hours of work, volunteering, education or training each month, with exemptions for children, seniors, pregnant people and those with disabilities. The state says it does not plan to request an extension and has begun outlining the rules.

In Wisconsin, the Department of Health Services warns that about 63,000 Medicaid members lack the documentation needed to meet the same federal requirements, putting them at risk of losing coverage when the rules start next year. Of the roughly 200,000 BadgerCare participants, the state is seeking guidance on exemptions for medically frail recipients and aims to reduce paperwork burdens for both beneficiaries and staff.