Legal Action Center

06/05/2026

ICYMI: Predicted Medicaid coverage losses due to work reporting rules just got even more staggering...

As Keely Cat-Wells writes for Forbes, CMS’ Interim Final Rule is likely to cause millions of more people to lose their coverage—even those meeting requirements—simply because of insurmountably steep administrative burdens. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ForbesCMSIFR

You can also read LAC's statement urging CMS to "to revise the rule to comply with the statute, preserve robust protections for medically frail individuals, and minimize administrative barriers that threaten access to essential health care for millions of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries" here: https://bit.ly/LACOpposesIFR

In the two-year study, half of the people who lost coverage reported serious problems with medical debt. Fifty-six percent delayed care because of cost.

06/04/2026

Last year, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law legislation expanding work reporting requirements and reducing federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP (HR 1). For many people, these programs are not optional benefits — they are lifelines that support access to lifesaving treatment, medication, food assistance, and stability.

As states begin implementing these changes, policymakers need to hear directly from the people most affected.

If changes to Medicaid or SNAP have impacted you, your family, your clients, or your community, we invite you to share your story through our brief survey: https://www.lac.org/major-project/faces-of-medicaid -and-changes

Your voice can help shape advocacy efforts aimed at mitigating harm and protecting people's access to vital care and basic needs support.

Please share widely!

06/03/2026

"This legislation recognizes a simple truth: access to health care should not begin weeks or months after someone returns home from incarceration," says Megan French-Marcelin, Senior Director of New York State Policy at the Legal Action Center (LAC). "The Transitional Reentry Health Act is a lifesaving investment in health, successful reentry, and public safety. By ensuring people can connect to care from day one, New York is taking an important step toward reducing fatal overdose, improving health outcomes, and helping people build stable lives in the community. Moreover, improving access to health care also supports employment, housing stability, family reunification, and community wellbeing at large. We are deeply grateful to Senator Rivera, Assemblymember Paulin, legislative leaders, and the coalition of advocates who worked tirelessly to secure passage of this monumental bill. We look forward to working alongside Governor Hochul to ensure this bill becomes law."

https://www.lac.org/news/lac-applauds-nys-passage-of-lifesaving-transitional-reentry-health-act

06/03/2026

Yesterday, LAC Policy Research Associate Jason Rodriguez spoke at a rally outside New York's City Hall, stressing the need to expand alternatives to incarceration to not only but also boost public safety citywide.

Learn more about this priority issue by visiting our website here: www.lac.org/major-project/ny-ati-reentry-coalition

06/02/2026

"The biggest impact of this rule will not be increased employment — it will be increased coverage losses among people who remain fully eligible for Medicaid but cannot navigate a maze of paperwork and reporting requirements," explains Teresa Miller, LAC's National Director of Health Initiatives. "When people lose access to care, their health deteriorates, making it harder — not easier — to find and keep a job. The Congressional Budget Office already projected that millions would lose coverage under H.R. 1, and by inserting new layers of red tape and restricting exemptions beyond what the law authorizes, CMS is ensuring that even more people will fall through the cracks."

Read LAC's full statement here: www.lac.org/news/lac-strongly-opposes-cms-interim-final-rule-implementing-medicaid-work-requirements

06/02/2026

New Medicaid work requirements enacted by the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump last summer threaten a double hit:

⚠️ People lose access to vital health care because of paperwork and reporting hurdles.
⚠️ States are forced to spend millions implementing complicated new rules instead of investing in care.

At a time when state budgets are already under pressure, federal policymakers are asking states to do more with less while putting health coverage at risk for the people who need it most.

States dealing with budget shortfalls are facing tens of millions of dollars in new costs ahead of the federal Jan. 1 deadline.

06/01/2026

Montana is becoming an early test of Medicaid work requirements — and it's exposing a troubling reality.

State officials are being asked to build costly new systems, hire staff, and navigate complex eligibility rules while already facing budget shortfalls. Meanwhile, eligible people risk losing health coverage because of paperwork and reporting requirements.

More bureaucracy. More costs. More barriers to care.

Learn more:

The state is ramping up to implement the federal work requirements six months ahead of the deadline. But Montana is one of several states already struggling to pay for health services.

06/01/2026

LAC IS HIRING! We're looking for a finance associate to join our hybrid NYC team!

The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of nonprofit accounting/finance experience and a proven track record of accuracy, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering exceptional accounting work while meeting deadlines.

Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/LACFinanceAssociate

And please share widely!

05/29/2026

ICYMI, big win in Maryland this week: Governor Wes Moore signed MD’s HB 1249 into law!

This bill will SAVE LIVES by prohibiting recovery residences from denying admission to people who take medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

Sponsored by Delegate Terri Hill, HB 1249 will also equip the state with tools to enforce these anti-discrimination protections, paving the way for improved access to and reduced stigma surrounding addiction treatment.

LAC is thrilled to have helped achieve this incredible outcome through our advocacy efforts! Learn more about the bill in testimony LAC submitted here: https://bit.ly/HB1249Testimony

05/28/2026

Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of people across the country — including people in addiction recovery, people returning home after incarceration, and people living with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

As cuts and changes to Medicaid and SNAP move forward under HR 1, we’re collecting stories from people directly impacted. Through our Faces of Medicaid campaign, we’re highlighting the real human consequences behind these policy changes.

If you’re a Medicaid or SNAP enrollee in recovery or reentry — or trying to enroll to support your recovery or reentry — we invite you to share how these changes are affecting you, your health, your stability, and your access to care.

Your story will help inform our ongoing advocacy at the state and federal level to mitigate harm for the communities most affected.

Share your story today:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RKYRTKB