Bronx Receives Medicaid Work Requirement Exemption
New York State's governor has granted Bronx an exemption from Medicaid work requirements, protecting healthcare benefits for approximately 200,000 residents.
The Bronx Safety-Net Alliance (BSNA), a coalition of community health centers, hospitals, health plans, and community-based organizations serving the Bronx, has thanked Governor Kathy Hochul and her administration following the state's announcement that Bronx County will be exempt from the work requirements for Medicaid established under H.R. 1. This exemption will protect the coverage for approximately 200,000 Bronx residents who are working, seeking employment, or experiencing temporary hardship, ensuring administrative processes do not become a barrier to their needed healthcare.
The Alliance, which formally urged the state to pursue this exemption, stated, "The Bronx Safety-Net Alliance commends the Hochul administration for taking decisive action to preserve access to healthcare for hundreds of thousands of Bronx residents, due to the significant administrative hurdles imposed by H.R. 1."
"This is an important moment for the Bronx," said Paloma Izquierdo-Hernandez, president and CEO of Urban Health Plan, which convened the Alliance. "Governor Hochul and her administration have been true allies in protecting healthcare for New Yorkers, and this exemption reflects that shared commitment. Thanks to the Bronx Safety-Net Alliance’s collaboration with the city and state, Bronx families who are working, looking for employment, or going through hardship now have one less barrier in maintaining the healthcare they depend on."
Under H.R. 1, counties with high unemployment rates can qualify for a hardship exemption. Bronx County is the only county in New York State meeting the federal criteria. The New York State Department of Health is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize details on how the exemption will be implemented, with announcements expected in November. Bronx Medicaid members will still need to renew their coverage every six months, and SNAP recipients must adhere to the program's new work requirements.