The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) has successfully completed eligibility redeterminations on Medicaid beneficiaries whose coverage was extended due to special rules that had been in effect during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Because of this, over 21,000 residents in north central Arkansas have lost their Medicaid coverage. Over 248,000 statewide have lost their coverage.
DHS said this week the continuous enrollment requirement during the PHE prevented them from removing most ineligible individuals from Medicaid, but normal eligibility rules resumed on April 1. Over a six month “unwinding” period that followed, DHS worked to reevaluate eligibility based on these normal eligibility rules, which are set by Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Locally, the “unwinding” has had a large impact. In Baxter County, 5,443 residents have lost Medicaid coverage. The number in Marion County is 2,353. Fulton County has seen 1,677 people lose coverage. In Izard County, the number is 2,058. Stone County has 1,970 residents who have lost Medicaid coverage. Searcy County has 1,271 people no longer covered. In Boone County, the number is 5,625. Newton County has 1,022 residents no longer covered. That brings the total to 21,419 in the north central part of the state.
DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam says “Medicaid resources should go to Arkansans who qualify for them, and not for those who are ineligible. I’m proud of the work that staff across our entire agency performed over the last six months to ensure that our program is serving only those who truly need Medicaid.”
If beneficiaries believe their case was closed in error, they can visit ar.gov/cover <http://click.comms.dhs.arkansas.gov/?qs=08e4dee1047ffdac09b8251cbc46d68f77d458653c4224f2017369c62a0808e24ef1634e5751a7d3d98da96d34b85f2a3ebeccdb1ca8d313> for information about requesting to have their coverage reinstated if they are still eligible, reapplying, or appealing the determination.
Beneficiaries who need assistance can call 855-372-1084 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They can also submit questions through the Access Anywhere form at ar.gov/accessanywhere <http://click.comms.dhs.arkansas.gov/?qs=08e4dee1047ffdacdd41d974818e3191b2a0a0bfcb5bf03d21b600b51f7453ad493d9da326fbbf15a6fc926e8a94efba6a6212ed6170166b>, or visit <ar.gov/renew> for additional information.
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