Jan 11, 2021 - Health

Trump administration issues last-minute approval for Medicaid block grant

Seema Verma.

CMS administrator Seema Verma. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

CMS administrator Seema Verma has been working steadily for four years to restructure the Medicaid program — and Friday's approval of a block grant proposal in Tennessee was one last, big parting shot.

The big picture: Medicaid waivers — most notably, waivers allowing states to impose work requirements in their Medicaid programs — have been the most focused, most significant part of the Trump administration's health care legacy.

  • And the waiver approved on Friday, allowing Tennessee to convert its Medicaid into a system of block grants for 10 years, would be the biggest change yet.

Yes, but: The Biden administration will be able to undo the waiver approval, as The Tennessean notes, and Medicaid work requirements have suffered consistent losses in the courts.

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