9 stories
Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Janet Mann told state lawmakers that the state's more than 215,000 Medicaid expansion enrollees are expected to retain health coverage despite Trump administration moves to end the state's hybrid expansion program. Mann expressed confidence that CMS will grant the state flexibility to maintain coverage through alternative arrangements. The statement comes as the administration pursues policy changes affecting state Medicaid expansion programs. Arkansas operates a unique expansion model that uses Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for eligible adults.
Arkansas' Medicaid expansion program, which covers over 300,000 low-income adults, is again facing potential elimination as state lawmakers debate its future. The program requires three-fourths legislative supermajority approval for funding, making it vulnerable to shifting political dynamics. Republican opposition has historically threatened the program despite its federal funding structure. The outcome will determine coverage continuity for hundreds of thousands of Arkansans enrolled through the expansion.
Montana's Medicaid work requirement is causing coverage loss for homeless individuals who cannot meet work or documentation standards due to disabilities like seizures. Adults aged 19-64 must work, volunteer, or participate in job training for 80 hours monthly, or document qualifying exemptions. Homeless individuals face barriers documenting exemptions and accessing exemption-granting providers. The policy affects Montana's expansion population, which includes approximately 100,000 adults.
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.
Centene Corporation will discontinue participation in Arkansas' ARHOME Medicaid expansion program in 2027, according to the state Department of Human Services. The withdrawal affects one of the state's major managed care organizations serving the expansion population. Arkansas receives billions in federal Medicaid dollars annually, and Centene's exit will require the state to reassign covered members to remaining health plans or adjust its managed care delivery system. The decision reflects ongoing commercial considerations in state Medicaid managed care markets.
Centene Corporation will discontinue participation in Arkansas' ARHOME Medicaid expansion program in 2027, according to confirmation from the Arkansas Department of Human Services on Monday. The exit affects one of the state's major managed care organizations serving the Medicaid expansion population. Arkansas receives billions in federal matching funds annually to administer Medicaid, including expansion coverage. The withdrawal requires the state to ensure continuity of care for affected enrollees and may trigger procurement or contract modifications.
Arkansas has started verifying whether Medicaid expansion enrollees meet work requirements mandated by new federal law, though enforcement does not begin until January 1, 2027. The state is conducting a 'soft launch' to assess compliance among hundreds of thousands of enrollees before penalties take effect. Enrollees who do not currently meet work requirements will not lose coverage during this pre-enforcement period. This represents Arkansas implementing federal work requirement authority ahead of the mandatory compliance date.
CMS released final regulations on June 1 governing how states implement Medicaid work requirements. The rule requires certain enrollees to prove they are working, completing job training, volunteering, or enrolled in educational programs to maintain coverage. States seeking to implement work requirements must comply with these federal standards. The rule affects millions of Medicaid enrollees and establishes the framework states must follow when designing and administering work requirement programs.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday that providers can now apply for shares of $55.6 million in federal funding for rural telehealth projects. The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in 2025. Applications are being administered through the Arkansas Department of Finance. The program aims to expand telehealth infrastructure and services in underserved rural areas of the state.
Get the daily briefing.