DHS Officials: 'Arkansas Works' 2.0 Cheaper for State

The Arkansas Department of Human Services said Wednesday that changes it's seeking for the "Arkansas Works" medicaid expansion could save the state as much as $93 million over five years. The changes comes as Arkansas is paying 5 percent of the cost for the program, with the feds picking up the rest of the bill. The state is set to pay 10 percent by 2020. Gov. Asa Hutchinson is expected to call a special legislative session next week aimed at approving legislation that would: Allow DHS to seek a waiver from the feds that would cap eligibility at 100 percent of the federal poverty level effective Jan. 1, 2018. That is down from a cap of 138 percent. Allow DHS to seek a waiver to add a work requirement that will be implemented over two years, mirroring what is required of the state's SNAP beneficiaries. Require a study be conducted by October to recommend ways the state can encourage small businesses to offer affordable insurance to employees. Amend Arkansas law so that the state would have the final say on who is eligible for Arkansas Works or traditional Medicaid. Right now, Arkansas is subject to often incorrect federal records, DHS officials said. DHS Director Cindy Gillespie said that, as of March 3, the 61,794 Arkansans with incomes from 100 to 138 percent would be covered via federal subsidies and remain on the same plan if their employers don't offer affordable insurance. "Affordable" in this context means premiums that cost 9.69 percent of their household income. DHS...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news