On Jan. 11, the Trump administration laid out a clear path to move millions of able-bodied adults from welfare to work. In a letter to state Medicaid directors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services set forth new guidance for states pursuing Medicaid work requirements.

Under the guidance, states can receive waivers to require able-bodied adults to work, train, or volunteer as a condition of Medicaid eligibility. This will finally bring Medicaid into alignment with other major welfare programs, which have successfully used similar rules for decades.