Coronavirus Crisis Stirs Fresh Debate Over Medicaid Work Rules

Supporters of Medicaid work requirements are building their defenses as the coronavirus takes its toll on the economy, even though such rules have consistently failed to survive in court.

Four states now have seen their requirements that Medicaid enrollees find work struck down, Bloomberg Law data show. Several states have voluntarily dropped or suspended requirements. Utah is the only state that’s suspended its rules because of the pandemic.

Critics expect the push for work requirements won’t resurface anytime soon, given the public health emergency and the hostile reception requirements have gotten in the courts. But supporters, looking to the fiscal ...