The court proceedings are among several healthcare-related cases causing some friction for the White House's policy objectives.
Two weeks after a federal judge blocked Medicaid work requirements in Kentucky and Arkansas, the Trump administration filed an appeal Wednesday, escalating the matter to the D.C. Circuit Court.
The dispute is among several court cases bogging down the White House's healthcare policy aims, as the Republican administration tries to figure out how to advance its priorities despite the Affordable Care Act.
At issue in these two cases—Stewart v. Azar in Kentucky and Gresham v. Azar in Arkansas—is whether work requirements further the statutory objectives of the Medicaid program, which is to provide healthcare.
A similar lawsuit, Philbrick v. Azar, was filed last week to challenge Medicaid work requirements in New Hampshire as well. But that hasn't stopped the Trump administration from moving forward with approvals of these requirements in other states.
Related: 3 Dos and Don'ts for Hospitals in States With Medicaid Work Requirements
Related: Latest Lawsuit Targets New Hampshire's Medicaid Work Requirements
Related: Medicaid Work Requirements Could Cost Hospitals $3.7B
Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.