A federal judge in Boston on Thursday blocked a Trump administration rule that made it harder for sick and disabled people on Medicaid to count as medically frail, AP and STAT report. People in that group do not have to meet new Medicaid work requirements.

US District Judge Richard Stearns sided in part with more than two dozen states that sued over the rule, the outlets report. AP says the coalition includes 25 states and the District of Columbia. STAT reports that the judge found the federal definition of who is too sick to work was overly restrictive.

Stearns wrote that enforcing an "unlawful definition" could lead to "the disenrollment of otherwise eligible vulnerable individuals," STAT reports. He said states and the public "face potential for great hardship" without an order to stop it.

The 2025 law lists groups who count as medically frail, AP reports. They include people who are blind or disabled or have serious medical conditions. The rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services went further and made people in those groups show more, AP reports. Stearns upheld two other federal limits on how states can check frailty, the outlet reports.

The ruling does not strike down the work requirements, AP reports. Starting January 1, most adults aged 19 to 64 who joined through the expansion must show they work or do community service at least 80 hours a month, the outlet reports. Being in school at least half time also counts. The Department of Health and Human Services and CMS did not immediately respond to AP's request for comment.

What we know: The judge blocked the stricter frailty definition but left the work requirements in place.
What we don't: Whether the administration will appeal.