U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns in Boston ruled on Oct. 29, 2026 that a Medicaid rule requiring separate proof of medical frailty for work‑hour exemptions is invalid.
The regulation had forced individuals with long‑term conditions who were limited to 80 hours of work per month to provide additional documentation, creating a double burden.
The judge ordered a six‑month delay to give states time to develop new proof‑submission systems before the requirement could be enforced.