Nebraska Hospitals Warn: Medicaid Work Requirements Will Strain Staffing, Disrupt Care — A Preview for California

Nebraska hospital systems warned April 13 that the state's imminent Medicaid work requirement implementation will strain clinical staffing and disrupt patient care continuity — the first real-world warning signal from a state moving early under the Federal Register flexibility rule. Nebraska is the first state to pursue a CMS-approved 1115 work requirement waiver in 2026. This is a direct preview of what California FQHCs will experience if CMS approves CA's projected waiver request under the June 1 IFR.