OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The state Department of Health and Human Services has asked the Nebraska Supreme Court to restore the department's power to withhold Medicaid coverage under a welfare-to-work program.
In the appeal, HHS says a Lancaster County district judge was wrong to throw out a state policy that ties Medicaid coverage for poor families to weekly work requirements, among other things.
The 2009 ruling said HHS exceeded its authority when approving the work requirement, adding that it's a matter for lawmakers to decide.
Her decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest on behalf of more than 400 impoverished parents.
The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Wednesday.
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On the Net:
Nebraska Judicial Branch: http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/
Nebraska Appleseed: http://www.neappleseed.org/
AP-CS-04-26-10 1305EDT
