Caroline Farrell was quoted in Law360 Healthcare Authority addressing a new federal rule on Medicaid work requirements and its potential legal and operational impacts.

Farrell raised concerns that the policy could result in coverage losses driven by administrative burden rather than eligibility. “I am worried that people will only lose coverage because of the red tape, and it will have the opposite effect of making people healthier and getting people into the workforce,” she said, noting that “we know the majority of Medicaid beneficiaries are already working or would meet an exemption.”

She also pointed to broader ripple effects across the healthcare system, stating that “this new mandatory Medicaid work requirement policy is likely to have significant impacts throughout the healthcare ecosystem, but especially on health plans, providers, and, of course, individual patients.”

Farrell further highlighted implementation challenges, adding that “it’s not clear that the states have had enough time to really build the systems and develop the outreach strategies that will be necessary for patients to truly understand what’s needed to comply with the work requirement or to be exempted.”

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