Valadao Touts Medicaid Work Rule Exemption for His Own District
KFF Health News reports that Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), who voted for the 2025 federal reconciliation law creating Medicaid work requirements, is now telling constituents his district likely qualifies for a hardship exemption from those rules. The law lets states seek exceptions for counties with high unemployment, and Valadao's Central Valley district, where about 6 in 10 residents are on Medi-Cal, would qualify under current data. At least 21 other House Republicans facing reelection represent counties that could similarly qualify, per KFF's analysis. Work requirements begin in January for 43 states and D.C., but CMS has not clarified what unemployment data states must use or how long exemptions would last, and some states have not yet applied.