Gov. Kotek calls out Trump administration over “unworkable” federal rollout, says “eligible people could lose health care due to paperwork problems and system failures”

Oregon – Governor Tina Kotek is leading a coalition of governors from multiple states, including Michigan, Washington, New York, Maine, and New Mexico, in raising concerns over new Medicaid requirements they say are being implemented without sufficient federal guidance or support.

In a letter sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the governors urged the Trump administration to address what they described as significant gaps in direction surrounding the rollout of new eligibility and system requirements tied to federal Medicaid policy changes passed by Congressional Republicans last year.

The governors warned that states are being required to overhaul complex eligibility systems and technology infrastructure under tight timelines, without the clear and consistent federal instructions needed to ensure accurate and fair implementation.

“States are being asked to carry out a complicated federal mandate without clear rules, without enough time, and with the risk that eligible people lose health care because of paperwork problems and system failures,” Governor Kotek said. “The Trump Administration created this chaos, and states are now being left to manage the consequences.”

According to the letter, state governments face major operational challenges in updating Medicaid systems, including coordination with technology vendors, retraining staff, and ensuring beneficiaries receive accurate information about eligibility requirements and protections during the transition period.

The governors also raised concerns that administrative barriers could result in eligible individuals losing coverage, even if they remain qualified under federal law. They warned that millions of Americans could be affected, including hundreds of thousands of residents in Oregon.

The coalition emphasized that unclear guidance could lead to inconsistent implementation across states, increasing the risk of errors, delays, and disruptions in coverage. They said that without immediate clarification, states may be forced to proceed using assumptions that could later conflict with final federal rules.

In their letter, the governors requested that federal officials provide written responses to outstanding questions by June 1, 2026. They also called for additional flexibility in the implementation timeline if final federal regulations differ from the interim guidance states have been operating under.

Kotek and the coalition stressed that Medicaid is a critical safety net program and that any disruption in eligibility processing or enrollment systems could have significant consequences for vulnerable populations, including low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

The governors urged the federal government to ensure that implementation is carried out in a way that prevents eligible people from losing coverage due to administrative or technical issues rather than actual changes in eligibility status.

The letter marks a coordinated push from multiple states seeking greater clarity and flexibility as they prepare for one of the most significant Medicaid system overhauls in recent years.