Arkansas Official Says ARHOME Transition Needs More Than Six Months
Arkansas Division of Medical Services Director Elizabeth Pitman told a legislative subcommittee Tuesday that transferring nearly 209,000 expansion enrollees off ARHOME would take longer than the six-month window CMS granted. The state had sought a two-year extension after CMS verbally denied a five-year renewal of the program, which uses Medicaid funds to buy private insurance for low-income residents; CMS instead extended ARHOME through June 30, 2027. Pitman said moving to managed care would take up to two years, while fee-for-service would take 12 to 18 months, and cited One Big Beautiful Bill Act provisions allowing higher Medicaid reimbursement rates that could save the state $22-35 million under fee-for-service or $61-70 million under managed care. She also noted Centene's withdrawal from the program affects about 70,000 enrollees, who must choose new Blue Cross Blue Shield plans or be auto-assigned, and that Medicaid work requirements begin January 1 regardless of the expansion program's future.