Exciting Changes to Arkansas Medicaid: What You Need to Know
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By Sheldon Riklon, M.D.
In recent months, Arkansas Medicaid has undergone significant updates aimed at improving health care access for mothers, infants and communities across the state. Let’s break down these important changes and how they impact Arkansans.
The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act
In February, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act into law, introducing key initiatives to support maternal and infant health. This act establishes:
- Presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women, allowing them to receive prenatal care while completing their Medicaid applications.
- Reimbursement pathways for doulas and perinatal community health workers, ensuring essential support services are accessible to expecting mothers.
- Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related remote health care services, including ultrasounds, blood pressure monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring.
The Community Health Worker Act
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted community members who help individuals navigate the health care system and access essential services. They provide a variety of services that contribute to improved health and well-being.
On April 3, another major step forward was taken with the signing of the Community Health Worker Act, which focuses on defining and supporting the role of CHWs in Arkansas. This act:
- Defines the scope of practice for CHWs, clarifying their role in health care.
- Establishes a statewide certification process to standardize and professionalize CHWs.
- Opens pathways for Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by CHWs, increasing access to community-based care.
Understanding Arkansas Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families. While it is a national initiative, each state administers its own program. Arkansas Medicaid covers a wide range of health care services, including:
- Primary care
- Mental health services
- Dental and vision care
- Emergency services
In 2014, Arkansas expanded Medicaid through the ARHOME program (formerly Arkansas Works), which uses Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for eligible residents. Additionally, the state administers ARKids First, a program dedicated to ensuring children receive essential health care services such as wellness visits, eye exams, dental checkups and immunizations.
CHWs can help with navigating the Medicaid application process and answer applicants’ related questions.
With these new changes, Arkansas is taking meaningful steps toward improving maternal health, expanding community-based health care, and ensuring that Medicaid services are more accessible than ever.
The UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation offers direct connections to CHWs at mobile health events throughout the state. Find a mobile health event or connect directly with a CHW at communityhealth.uams.edu.
Sheldon Riklon, M.D., is a professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and a co-investigator with the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.