Nebraska rushed Medicaid work rules. Then a cancer patient was told he’d lost coverage

Eli McCreary, a 64-year-old Omaha resident, learned he had lost his Medicaid coverage after being diagnosed with kidney cancer. The hospital, run by CHI Health, informed him that his benefits under the government health program required him to have a job and fulfill work requirements. McCreary, who has battled drug addiction and suffers from diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said he canceled tests and appointments, feeling he had missed his chance for treatment.

Nebraska, determined to be the first state to enforce Medicaid work requirements, began implementing the new rules on May 1, eight months before other states. The rollout has faced criticism from health clinics and advocates, who claim issues such as poor training and inadequate staffing have caused confusion among Medicaid recipients.

The state budgeted $8.2 million for contractor costs to implement the changes, which include work requirements and more frequent checks for eligibility. Despite the challenges, state officials have claimed the rollout has been successful, with 86% of affected applicants meeting the requirement or qualifying for an exemption, and 93% of existing enrollees retaining their coverage.