Stroke survivors with aphasia who struggle to speak, read, or complete complex paperwork are being pushed off Medicaid by Trump’s work requirements simply because of the disability caused by their stroke. This is not how a health system should function.

States across the country are now overwhelmed by new administrative hurdles, unclear federal guidance, and rapidly changing deadlines. Some states have stepped up to protect stroke survivors. Others have not. The result is a patchwork of inconsistent decisions that leaves vulnerable people at risk of losing lifesaving care.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has the power to fix this immediately. He can issue national guidance exempting stroke survivors with aphasia from Medicaid work requirements and extending recertification windows nationwide.

He does not need Congress. He does not need a new rulemaking process. A simple directive would ensure that no stroke survivor is wrongfully terminated because of a condition that prevents them from navigating complex reporting systems.

Is Dr. Oz just like the Wizard of Oz -- a puppet controlled by a man like Trump hiding behind a curtain -- or does he have the sense and decency to protect stroke survivors from losing coverage they desperately need?

Stroke survivors deserve stability and consistent protection in every state. They cannot complete rigid documentation requirements without support, and they should never be punished for a disability caused by a medical emergency. Federal leadership is overdue, and Dr. Oz must act now.

Click “START WRITING” to send a direct message urging Dr. Oz to exempt stroke survivors with aphasia from Medicaid work requirements and extend recertification timelines nationwide.