Nebraska ‘Walks a Fine Line’ With Work for Health Benefits Rule

A Nebraska Medicaid plan that offers extra health benefits to enrollees who meet work and wellness requirements has a fair shot at surviving court scrutiny and could serve as a model for other states seeking to expand their programs, analysts say.

Work requirements for the low-income Medicaid population have met stiff headwinds in the court—four states now have seen them struck down. But Nebraska officials have taken a different approach by limiting their reach to dental, vision, and over-the-counter drug benefits—benefits that states aren’t required to provide under the Medicaid statute.

Nebraska enrollees who don’t meet the requirements will still ...