State Policy · AR
CMS Denies Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Waiver Renewal Covering 200,000 Enrollees
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rejected Arkansas' request to renew its hybrid Medicaid expansion waiver, which currently covers more than 200,000 low-income adults. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' office confirmed the verbal denial from CMS on Friday. The decision creates immediate uncertainty about whether Arkansas will continue expansion coverage, with potential coverage termination if no alternative arrangement is reached. Arkansas' expansion operates under a Section 1115 waiver with unique program features that required federal approval to continue.
Why it mattersThe denial puts coverage at risk for over 200,000 Arkansas expansion enrollees and may signal CMS's willingness to reject waiver renewals for hybrid expansion models in other states.
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