Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act

This bill, titled the "Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act," proposes to amend the Social Security Act by establishing a minimum work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in State Medicaid programs. Effective January 1, 2026, individuals must either work or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week, averaged monthly, to remain eligible for medical assistance. The legislation defines "able-bodied adult" with several important exemptions to this requirement. These include individuals under 18 or over 65, those medically certified as unfit for employment, and pregnant individuals. Furthermore, primary parents or caretakers of dependent children under six or with serious medical conditions, as well as those receiving unemployment compensation or participating in drug or alcohol treatment programs, are also exempt from the work mandate.