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- Sep 30, 2011
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LANSING — Familiar fault lines formed Wednesday when the Senate’s Michigan Competitiveness Committee voted to require many Medicaid recipients to work.
Republicans aligned with the business community in supporting the bill, which passed on a 4-1 vote, while Democrats and social service groups roundly criticized the bill as both onerous for the state Health Department and punitive against a vulnerable population in the state.
The full Senate is expected to fast track the bill and take it up for a vote on Thursday.
The bill would require able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid health care coverage to either work at least 29 hours a week or be enrolled in a job training or education program. They would have to report their family income monthly to the state and within 10 days if there are any changes to that income.
There are exemptions for an individual who is the sole caretaker of a family member under age 6 or a family member who is disabled, pregnant, receiving long-term disability benefits, a full-time student or a person undergoing substance abuse treatment.
“Let’s not lose the fact that there is dignity in work. I remember back when there were very strong reforms with welfare and protesters were saying it was going to be the end of the world. Whenever we hear that over-the-top screaming and yelling, it never seems to come to fruition,” said Pete Lund, executive director of the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “These are very reasonable requirements.”
Have Medicaid? New Michigan bill may force you to work
Michigan is always a hot mess.
Republicans aligned with the business community in supporting the bill, which passed on a 4-1 vote, while Democrats and social service groups roundly criticized the bill as both onerous for the state Health Department and punitive against a vulnerable population in the state.
The full Senate is expected to fast track the bill and take it up for a vote on Thursday.
The bill would require able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid health care coverage to either work at least 29 hours a week or be enrolled in a job training or education program. They would have to report their family income monthly to the state and within 10 days if there are any changes to that income.
There are exemptions for an individual who is the sole caretaker of a family member under age 6 or a family member who is disabled, pregnant, receiving long-term disability benefits, a full-time student or a person undergoing substance abuse treatment.
“Let’s not lose the fact that there is dignity in work. I remember back when there were very strong reforms with welfare and protesters were saying it was going to be the end of the world. Whenever we hear that over-the-top screaming and yelling, it never seems to come to fruition,” said Pete Lund, executive director of the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “These are very reasonable requirements.”
Have Medicaid? New Michigan bill may force you to work
Michigan is always a hot mess.
