In a major policy shift, the Trump administration said Thursday it is offering a path for states that want to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients.

Ten states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin -- have applied for a federal waiver to add the work requirement.

It is highly unlikely that California would seek such a request.

Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said work and community involvement can make a positive difference in people's lives and in their health. Still, the plan probably will face strong political opposition and even legal challenges over concerns that some low-income beneficiaries will lose coverage.  

With files from the Associated Press

Guest:

Phil Galewitz, senior correspondent covering  medicaid and medicare and healthcare issues for Kaiser Health News; he’s been following the story; he tweets @philgalewitz