INDIANAPOLIS — The Biden administration has revoked the federal authorization for Indiana’s planned work requirements for low-income residents who receive their health insurance through Medicaid.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb sought to implement the work requirements for the Healthy Indiana Plan program in 2019 under approval from the Trump administration. But it was put on hold after being challenged by a federal lawsuit and as suspensions from the program were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified Indiana officials last week that the employment mandate “risks significant coverage losses and harm to beneficiaries” and does “not promote the objectives of the Medicaid program,” The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.

The agency cited the broad exemptions to Indiana’s “Gateway to Work” requirement, coupled with the time and paperwork needed to report work hours, made it more likely than not the mandate would “influence the behavior of a very small number of individuals, while risking coverage loss for many.”

Indiana’s plan aimed to require those who don’t qualify for exemptions to report 20 hours a month of work or related activity, or face coverage loss.