A Closer Look at Nebraska, the First State Planning to Implement a Medicaid Work Requirement Authors: Amaya Diana and Anna Mudumala Published: Jan 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-closer-look-at-nebraska-the-first-state-planning-to-implement-a-medicaid-work-requirement/ In December, Nebraska was the first state to announce that it would be enforcing Medicaid work requirements early, starting May 1, 2026. The 2025 reconciliation law requires states to condition Medicaid eligibility for adults in the ACA Medicaid expansion group and enrollees in partial expansion waiver programs (Georgia and Wisconsin) on meeting work requirements starting January 1, 2027; however, states have the option to implement requirements sooner through a state plan amendment or through an approved 1115 waiver. Implementing work requirements will require complex changes to eligibility and enrollment...