DeAnna Brandon
Coverage of DeAnna Brandon in the Nexus archive.
- Too sick to work, but can they prove it? New Medicaid rule worries patients
DeAnna Brandon, a North Carolina blood cancer survivor, fears new Medicaid work requirements will jeopardize her health coverage and treatment. The Trump administration's revised medical frailty exemption requires proof of significant impairment, raising concerns among health analysts about increased coverage losses.
- Too sick to work, but can they prove it? New Medicaid rule worries patients
A new Medicaid rule introduced by the Trump administration requires individuals to prove their medical conditions 'significantly impair' their ability to meet work requirements, raising concerns among patients like blood cancer survivor DeAnna Brandon. The policy, part of a 2025 tax and policy law, mandates 80 monthly hours of work or community service for Medicaid expansion enrollees aged 19-64, with exceptions for medically frail individuals. Health experts warn the rule could lead to unnecessary coverage losses and increased paperwork for vulnerable patients.