The AP (3/1, Lieb) reports that in order to receive Medicaid health coverage, “some adults will soon have to show they are working, volunteering or taking classes. But to gather that proof, many states first will have to spend millions of dollars improving their computer systems.” Across the nation, states “face an immense task and high costs to prepare for the Jan. 1 kickoff of new Medicaid eligibility mandates affecting millions of lower-income adults in the government-funded health care program.” The first half of “a $200 million federal allotment has already begun flowing to states to help implement the new requirements.” But according to an AP analysis, the “tab for the needed technology improvements and additional staff is likely to exceed $1 billion. … That extra cost will be borne by a mixture of federal and state tax dollars.”
Related Links:
— “Trump’s Medicaid work mandates are meant to save money. But first states will have to spend millions,”David A. Lieb , AP, March 1, 2026