By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – This Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will implement Medicaid work requirements, making Nebraska the first state in the country to do so.
Last year, H.R. 1 was approved by Congress, requiring states to implement new work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries in the expansion category, which includes able-bodied adults between 19 and 64. States are required to implement the changes by Jan. 1, 2027; Nebraska will implement the new work requirements starting May 1, 2026.
Although the requirements take effect May 1, they will not be applied to all expansion members immediately. Reviews will occur during each member’s regularly scheduled Medicaid renewal period. Members with renewal dates in May or June 2026 will not be subject to the requirements. The first group impacted will be those with eligibility periods ending July 31, 2026, with phased implementation continuing through June 2027. Existing members must demonstrate at least one month of compliance with work requirements since their initial eligibility determination or most recent renewal.
Unless exempt, Medicaid expansion members and new applicants eligible in the expansion category must either work, volunteer, attend school or an apprenticeship, or participate in a work program to meet the new requirements. Members and applicants must participate in any of these activities for a combined 80 hours or make at least the federal minimum wage income threshold in a qualifying month. Requirements go into effect immediately for new Medicaid applicants eligible in the expansion category.
DHHS has conducted extensive outreach to inform Medicaid expansion members of the upcoming changes. Efforts include distributing more than 75,000 letters, 38,000 text messages and 10,000 emails. Since January 1, the department has also sent monthly communications to newly enrolled members, averaging 4,000 notices, 2,000 text messages and 400 emails per month. Additional outreach has included television, radio and social media campaigns.
“We want to make sure members know that they will not necessarily need to meet these new requirements as soon as they go into effect,” said Drew Gonshorowski, Director of the Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care. “DHHS is also ensuring we will attempt to verify members are meeting these requirements with information we already have before requesting any additional information from them.”
Medicaid members may not need to take action right away regarding the requirements, but they should continue to report changes that may impact their eligibility. If DHHS is unable to verify that an individual meets the Medicaid Work Requirements, a notice will be sent requesting more information.
The Medicaid Work Requirements webpage at https://dhhs.ne.gov/WorkRequirements includes information regarding the requirements, including a list of exemptions, temporary hardships and medically frail conditions that qualify someone for an exemption. The webpage also contains educational videos and various resources for finding work or volunteer opportunities.
Questions regarding the Medicaid Work Requirements can be directed to a local DHHS office. To find the closest office, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Public-Assistance-Offices.aspx.