Sen. Kennedy Introduces Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act to Require Work for Benefits
This bill was introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Finance. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and has no upcoming votes scheduled. The bill is actively moving through the initial steps of consideration.
While this is a top priority for many Republicans, it faces strong opposition from Democrats who argue it creates red tape that kicks people off their health insurance.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Gig workers with irregular hours may struggle to consistently meet the 20-hour weekly average requirement. Unlike traditional employees with set schedules, gig workers often have fluctuating workloads, and documenting their hours could pose additional challenges under this requirement.
“The adult works 20 hours or more per week, based on a monthly average.”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Republican Sens. John Kennedy and Eric Schmitt introduced the Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act on Feb. 6. The bill would require able-bodied adults without dependents to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week to receive benefits, potentially saving $109 billion over 10 years.
The sweeping budget bill signed by President Trump includes significant changes to Medicaid, including a federal mandate for work requirements. The policy requires 80 hours of community engagement per month, a major shift for the program's expansion population.
While focusing on Planned Parenthood, the Senate budget bill also fast-tracks nationwide Medicaid work requirements. The provision requires able-bodied adults to document 20 hours of work or volunteering weekly to maintain their health benefits.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act
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