Virginia Backs Off Medicaid Work Rule After Dems Win Statehouse

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) directed state health officials to back off a plan to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients.

Lawmakers in 2018 passed a Medicaid expansion program, and the commonwealth has been waiting for federal approval of some of the changes. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the state asked that final approval be delayed.

The move comes a month after an election in which Democrats regained majorities in both houses of the Legislature. The governor said he expects lawmakers to “substantially modify” the Medicaid changes.

Northam issued a statement noting hurdles other ...