Court widens Medicaid frailty exemption but keeps the work rule
Issue
On October 29, 2026, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled in Massachusetts v. Oz that CMS narrowed the medically frail exemption to the work requirement too far, KFF reported. A condition in one of the five groups qualifies, and two verification limits stay.
The rule took effect July 31, 2026, and states must apply it by January 1, 2027.
Sources for this story
KFF (court decision on the medical frailty exclusion, October 2026)Part of
- Medicaid work-requirement implementation
The federal rule (CMS-2454-IFC) · Massachusetts v. Oz and other court challenges
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FQHC Talent. (2026, October 30). Court widens Medicaid frailty exemption but keeps the work rule. Source: KFF (court decision on the medical frailty exclusion, October 2026). Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/massachusetts-v-oz-ruling-widens-medically-frail-exemption-october-2026