Readers Speak Out on Work Requirements, Federal Data Grab, Opioid Payback Cash

Work Requirements and Medicaid Applications

A recent story highlights how the Deloitte-run system wrongfully denied Medicaid benefits to disabled individuals in Michigan, burdening them with proving their entitlement. This often incurs substantial costs and is made more challenging as recipients lack funds to cover the expense of providing work restrictions, which are typically provided by doctors but not necessarily by vocational experts.

The process can take months, and even successful appeals may leave recipients with no savings. Moreover, under "exhaustion of remedies," recipients must first exhaust administrative options before seeking court intervention, with courts often deferring to administrative agencies' fact findings. The author argues that the current system unfairly demonizes Medicaid recipients as presumptive work-capable individuals who undeservingly receive benefits.

They propose that the burden of proof should shift to the state to prove the recipient's ability to work and availability of suitable work, presuming qualification unless clear and convincing evidence demonstrates otherwise.

Concerns Over Federal Data Grab

The Office of Personnel Management has experienced substantial data breaches affecting millions. A retired federal civil servant expresses concern over the recent federal actions regarding the removal of identifying information in the OPM's data collection. The author questions how the proposed massive data dump can be safeguarded better than the previously breached personnel records.

Opioid Crisis and Settlement Accountability

The article discusses the New Mexico opioid settlement accountability, drawing a contrast between public attention on potential misuse and a different issue: large amounts of opioid remediation funds remaining unspent years after settlements. The New Mexico Office of the State Auditor found over $100 million in opioid settlement funds held by local governments, with many reporting little or no expenditures as of fiscal year 2025.

The lack of spending is attributed to workforce shortages, provider capacity constraints, procurement hurdles, and long-term sustainability concerns. The author emphasizes that securing settlement dollars is merely the first step in addressing the opioid crisis. States must build the necessary systems, workforce, and infrastructure to translate settlement dollars into tangible public health gains, including treatment, recovery services, and prevention programs.