Nebraska mental health service providers have seen a surge in calls from Medicaid recipients since new work requirements went into effect last month.
The rules, imposed by the Trump administration, require recipients to work 80 hours per month to qualify. While most of the country will not impose the requirements until Jan. 1, Nebraska initiated them eight months ahead of the deadline, leaving recipients scrambling.
Chris Tonniges, president and CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, said the rules assume Medicaid recipients are able to meet the work requirement, which he said is often not the case.
“A lot of the clients that we see suffer from significant mental illness, oftentimes dual diagnosis mental illness, where they’ve got substance use disorder and then maybe severe persistent anxiety, depression, schizophrenia,” Tonniges outlined.
Tonniges pointed out Lutheran Family Services and other organizations are offering support for people who are unsure whether they will have health insurance and access to regular meals. The new federal budget also cut $187 billion from nutrition assistance programs.
Tonniges is not opposed to the concept of adding more people to the labor force. He added Lutheran Family Services matches employers with potential employees seeking jobs.
“Our team works with those employers on identifying potential alternative time schedules, alternative working conditions in order to meet the needs of those individuals that we serve,” he explained.
Washington, D.C., and 43 states are implementing the new work requirements. Montana is next on July 1.