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June 3, 2026 - WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond released the following statement in response to the interim final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Medicaid community engagement requirements enacted in federal law last year. The rule, which takes effect July 31, 2026, establishes how states must start implementing the new work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries in the expansion population and provides needed clarity related to the exemption for family caregivers:
"The 63 million Americans caring for parents, spouses, and loved ones are doing some of the hardest and most essential work there is. Caregiving is work — and a Medicaid work requirement should recognize that. AARP made that case to CMS throughout the rulemaking process, and we're glad the agency listened: the rule takes important steps to protect certain family caregivers from the new requirements and draws on AARP's own research to help states identify them.
We're clear-eyed, though, about the challenges ahead. People who qualify for Medicaid could still lose their health care under these requirements — not because they've done anything wrong, but because they missed a deadline or got caught in red tape. That's a real risk, and getting the caregiver exemption right is only part of the answer. States and CMS must also ensure that other affected groups are protected from avoidable coverage loss. AARP will stay at the table with CMS and the states to make sure no one loses coverage simply because the system is hard to navigate."
About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.
Source: AARP
