The Senate Majority Policy Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a workshop on work requirements for able-bodied, non-elderly Medicaid recipients.
This workshop will take place on Wednesday, June 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Room 8 EB in the East Wing of the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg.
“Medicaid is one of the most expensive programs in the state and costs are projected to continue to rise,” said Senate Majority Policy chairman David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks). “Right now we have 486,000 non-disabled, non-elderly Medicaid recipients in Pennsylvania who are not working. We are not trying to drag somebody out of a treatment facility or force great-grandma to work in a coal mine. Rather, our goal is to come together and discuss this issue thoroughly with professionals so that we can come to a meaningful compromise to address this issue.”
Earlier this year, the Governor asked for $12.9 billion for the Department of Human Services, $400 million more than last year. Recently, the Department asked for even more -- hundreds of millions more -- to cover additional costs. Legislation has been introduced in the Senate, based upon the experience of other states, to require some Medicaid recipients to work, seek employment, attend job training programs, or volunteer in their community in order to receive benefits. Work requirements already exist for other public assistance programs, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Panelists expected to present expertise at this workshop include Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, and representatives from Community Legal Services Inc., the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, the Foundation for Government Accountability, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.
“Medicaid is one of the most expensive programs in the state and costs are projected to continue to rise,” said Senate Majority Policy chairman David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks). “Right now we have 486,000 non-disabled, non-elderly Medicaid recipients in Pennsylvania who are not working. We are not trying to drag somebody out of a treatment facility or force great-grandma to work in a coal mine. Rather, our goal is to come together and discuss this issue thoroughly with professionals so that we can come to a meaningful compromise to address this issue.”
Earlier this year, the Governor asked for $12.9 billion for the Department of Human Services, $400 million more than last year. Recently, the Department asked for even more -- hundreds of millions more -- to cover additional costs. Legislation has been introduced in the Senate, based upon the experience of other states, to require some Medicaid recipients to work, seek employment, attend job training programs, or volunteer in their community in order to receive benefits. Work requirements already exist for other public assistance programs, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Panelists expected to present expertise at this workshop include Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, and representatives from Community Legal Services Inc., the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, the Foundation for Government Accountability, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.