The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Interim Final Rule with Comment to establish nationwide standards for Medicaid work requirements, effective January 1, 2027. States are required to implement these requirements starting on that date. According to cms.gov, enrollees must complete 80 hours per month of work, education, work programs, or community service to remain eligible. The rule defines medical frailty exemptions, requiring that an enrollee’s health condition must significantly impair their ability to work to qualify, according to cnn.com. Patient advocacy groups warn that stricter exemption standards could result in enrollees with serious medical conditions losing coverage. CMS is providing guidance to states on how to verify the work status of Medicaid enrollees, according to stateline.org. The rule was issued under Public Law 119-21, referred to by CMS as the Working Families Tax Cut (WFTC) legislation, according to cms.gov. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz stated that the rule supports engagement in work, education, or community service, according to cms.gov. Reports from bluesky claim the Trump administration is tightening work requirements for Medicare eligibility; however, Medicare covers adults age 65 and older and those with certain disabilities, as noted by kiplinger.com, and no federal work requirements have been established for Medicare. The number of Medicare enrollees is expected to grow to 68 to 69 million over the next few years, according to kiplinger.com.