Judge blocks federal rule that could have made it harder for some sick North Carolinians to keep Medicaid benefits.
RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is celebrating a court victory after a federal judge blocked part of a Medicaid rule that critics said would have created extra hurdles for people with serious medical conditions.
Jackson joined a coalition of states in challenging the rule, arguing that people battling major illnesses should not have to jump through additional hoops to qualify for Medicaid protections.
At the center of the case was a federal policy dealing with people considered “medically frail.” That category can include individuals with severe illnesses and other significant health challenges.
According to Jackson’s office, the rule would have required some Medicaid recipients to provide additional proof showing that their health condition prevented them from meeting future work-related requirements. The states argued the federal government was making the process more complicated than Congress intended.
A federal judge agreed and blocked the challenged portion of the rule.
Jackson praised the decision and said the lawsuit was about protecting people fighting serious illnesses from losing healthcare coverage while they focus on treatment.
“When we filed this lawsuit, I told people battling cancer and other serious illnesses to focus on getting better and let us handle the legal fight,” Jackson said. “Today, we won that fight. Congress specifically protected these patients, and CMS broke the law by trying to take that protection away. The judge agreed and struck down the restriction.”
Jackson said the decision helps ensure that seriously ill North Carolinians are not denied important protections because of added paperwork or technical requirements.
The ruling does not stop upcoming Medicaid work requirements. Instead, it prevents the federal government from using a stricter standard that opponents said could have made it harder for some sick residents to qualify for exemptions.
State officials described the decision as an important victory for North Carolinians facing serious health issues who depend on Medicaid for doctor visits, treatments, medications, and other essential care.
In simple terms, the court ruled that if someone is seriously ill, the government cannot add extra barriers that make it more difficult for that person to receive protections already available under Medicaid.
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