Half of Michigan Medicaid expansion enrollees work

Justin Taylor / Flickr

DETROIT (AP) - A new study finds roughly half of those enrolled in Michigan's Medicaid program since its expansion have jobs and another quarter unemployed are likely to be in poor health.

Authors of the study released Monday by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation say the findings raise concerns about work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The Trump administration urges states to consider changes to Medicaid programs to encourage work and independence and some have asked for work requirements or other waivers.

Lead author Renuka Tipirneni asks if screening and tracking enrollees are worthwhile when a minority aren't employed and are potentially able to work.

The peer-reviewed study is based on surveys of about 4,000 people enrolled in Michigan's program. The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.