Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

The issue of Medicaid reform is still tied up in the courts. Last year the federal government gave Kentucky a waiver regarding Medicaid requirements. The waiver allowed for incentives to be put into place for able-bodied people who aren't the primary caregivers of a family member. The waiver required the able bodied between 18-64 to work part-time 20 hours/week, volunteer part-time or go to school. But federal judges keep putting roadblocks up. The requirements were struck down back in June. Another federal judge in Frankfort dismissed Gov. Bevin's counter lawsuit to keep the new requirements in place. Which brings us to this question: how much power should federal judges have when it comes to making policy decisions for us? The judiciary is charged with upholding the U.S. Constitution, but policy decisions are left to the other two branches of government.