National Health Law Program Urges HHS to Reject Arizona’s Medicaid Waiver Plan

Executive Summary

In comments to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the National Health Law Program explains why Arizona’s proposed Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver Amendment is flawed and legally suspect. Arizona’s amended Medicaid waiver project includes an onerous work reporting requirement and lifetime limits on Medicaid. Work requirements are well-documented by extensive research that shows they do “little or nothing to increase stable, long-term employment and does not decrease poverty.” Regarding Arizona’s time-limit, the National Health Law Program notes, ” Congress did not intend to limit Medicaid to temporary health care coverage. Instead, Congress designed Medicaid to furnish medical assistance to low-income individuals who cannot afford the costs of necessary medical care when and for long as they have a medical necessity for such assistance.”