A federal judge has issued a ruling against enforcing a controversial new regulation advanced by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The disputed measure would have required chronically ill individuals enrolled in Medicaid—the public health insurance program for low-income populations—to prove themselves “medically frail” in order to qualify for exemptions from strict work requirements.

US District Judge Richard Stearns blocked the rule, siding with a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia. These jurisdictions had filed a lawsuit against the Trump regime, arguing that the policy unlawfully restricts medical exemptions for people suffering from serious health conditions. Plaintiffs contended that the stricter criteria would allegedly prevent eligible Americans from accessing essential healthcare services.

Under statutory guidelines, the definition of medically frail is supposed to encompass individuals who are blind, disabled, struggling with substance use or mental disorders, or dealing with complex medical conditions that impair daily functioning. However, the Trump regime reportedly expanded the rule to mandate that individuals in these vulnerable groups also show that their conditions significantly impair their compliance with upcoming work mandates.

In his 16-page ruling, Judge Stearns emphasized that the states had successfully demonstrated the threat of irreparable harm, noting the immense financial and operational burdens of overhauling their eligibility verification systems. Observers note, however, that while the decision eases exemption hurdles for some recipients, it does not completely strike down the underlying work requirements set to take effect.

Source: www.aljazeera.com