With work reporting requirements back in discussion in Washington, it’s critical to examine who these policies really serve. While billionaires continue to receive tax breaks, these unnecessary requirements will strip health care from people with low incomes – pushing them into medical debt and forcing them to delay or forgo care.

We’ve seen these policies before, and the evidence is clear: they don’t increase employment, but they do add excessive bureaucratic red tape and cause people – especially those with chronic conditions, caregiving responsibilities, or unpredictable work schedules – to lose Medicaid coverage. The result? More people end up in the ER for preventable health issues, driving up uncompensated care costs and increasing medical debt across communities. Community Catalyst’s latest blog post and explainer video break down what’s at stake.

Mona Shah, Senior Director of Policy & Strategy, shared:

“Work reporting requirements are just another bureaucratic barrier designed to take health care away from people. These policies don’t help people find jobs – they just punish those already employed or those facing systemic barriers to employment, all while Congress debates more tax breaks for billionaires. When people lose Medicaid, they don’t stop getting sick – they just rack up medical debt they can’t afford, leading to financial devastation for families and communities.

“But we’ve seen this show before – and this is not what people want. Medicaid works. It’s a highly popular program, and people want more health care, not less. We are mobilized and have the grassroots power to out organize those opposed to health justice, even if we can’t outspend them. On the heels of a mobilized, cross-movement day of action, we know those opposed to quality, affordable health care for all are on the wrong side of history.”

These are the voices of people who understand what’s at stake – mothers and caregivers, community health workers, and advocates. They are not only benefiting from Medicaid but are also leading the fight to protect it.

  • Eboni is a cancer survivor. Thanks to Medicaid, she got the care she needed to fight and address her diagnosis while ensuring she could continue to care for her children. “Please don’t take Medicaid away. It’s desperately needed.”
  • Meghan is grateful for the care her mother was able to receive after a major accident. Her mom was able to get the care she needed and return home, thanks to Medicaid. “All of us are one major accident away from needing Medicaid if we don’t already need it … I truly believe Medicaid is a lifeline – it supports us all and it helps us all.”
  • Thomas has a chronic autoimmune disease and is grateful for the care he is able to get thanks to Medicaid. He is calling on policymakers to protect the services that he and so many others need to stay healthy. “I think it needs to be Medicaid for whoever needs it.” 

Together, they are organizing to protect Medicaid from harmful attacks and ensure their communities continue to have access to life-saving care.

Below are two resources that provide further background on this issue:

Please reach out to Jack Cardinal at jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org if you’d like to connect with an expert or need additional information.