A federal court has struck down a central part of a rule that would have made some Medicaid recipients with serious medical conditions meet a more restrictive definition of medical frailty. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the ruling protects coverage for vulnerable New Yorkers.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted summary judgment in a challenge brought by New York, 24 other states and the District of Columbia, according to the attorney general's office. The coalition filed its lawsuit in June 2026.
The challenged Trump administration rule would have required some recipients designated medically frail to meet additional administrative requirements to establish their eligibility. The court declared a central provision of the more restrictive definition unlawful, the office said.
James said added barriers could affect people living with cancer, disabilities, serious mental health conditions or addiction. She described the decision as potentially lifesaving relief for people whose health coverage was at risk.
The announcement concerns the challenged medical-frailty provision rather than a change to every Medicaid eligibility rule.
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