By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – With Medicaid Work Requirements set to go into effect this May, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has increased its public outreach regarding these changes, including collaborative meetings with its partners.
“Our top priority is making sure members clearly understand changes to the program and how to maintain their coverage, which is why DHHS is committed to communicating and providing support every step of the way,” said Drew Gonshorowski, Director of the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care.
These new requirements are being implemented as a result of H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was passed by Congress last year. States are required to adopt the requirements by Jan. 1, 2027. Nebraska will implement the requirements starting May 1, 2026.
Starting on that date, new applicants in the Medicaid expansion category must either work, volunteer, attend school, or participate in a work program. The expansion category includes able-bodied adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who are not pregnant or enrolled in Medicare. Existing expansion members will be checked for eligibility during their renewals. Members may also meet exemptions from these requirements.
To share these changes, DHHS recently held community town halls with various stakeholders, including community and workforce organizations, state agencies, health care providers and advisory committees. These meetings, attended by more than 200 individuals, have included overviews of the changes and documentation examples, as well as question-and-answer periods. DHHS has also incorporated feedback from these groups into the development of materials, including forms and notices related to the requirements.
“Our community and state partners are essential in helping our members understand these new requirements,” Gonshorowski said. “Through these meetings, we’ve broken down what can feel like a complex policy into program concepts that our partners can understand.”
Recordings of these presentations can be found on the Medicaid Work Requirements webpage at https://dhhs.ne.gov/WorkRequirements. The page also contains important information regarding the requirements and is continuously updated.
In the last month prior to the implementation date, DHHS will continue outreach through additional meetings to update stakeholders on any changes to the requirements. A media campaign will also launch on television, radio and digital platforms to raise awareness among the public and ensure that members are prepared for the change. To learn more about the requirements, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/WorkRequirements.