Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Medicaid Work Requirements for Mental Health Patients — National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Event summary

80% of Americans are unfamiliar with upcoming Medicaid community engagement requirements set to take effect in January 2027.
79% of Americans support allowing people with mental illness to keep their Medicaid coverage despite the new requirements.
65% of adults are concerned about people losing their Medicaid coverage under these new rules.
NAMI's member survey shows 97% concern that people will lose Medicaid coverage due to the requirements.

The big picture

The poll highlights a significant disconnect between public opinion and upcoming Medicaid policy changes, with broad support for maintaining coverage for mental health patients. The findings come as CMS finalizes rules that could lead to substantial coverage losses, underscoring the tension between work requirements and healthcare access. NAMI's advocacy efforts aim to bridge this gap, but the outcome hinges on regulatory flexibility and public engagement.

What we're watching

Regulatory Response: Whether CMS will adjust the interim final rule to mitigate coverage losses for mental health patients.
Public Awareness: The pace at which public awareness of these requirements grows before their January 2027 implementation.
Advocacy Impact: How NAMI's advocacy efforts influence CMS's final rule and potential legislative changes.