HB1004

House Bill 1004 mandates that the Arkansas Department of Human Services extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from the current duration to one full year following childbirth. The bill requires the department to take necessary administrative steps, including submitting state plan amendments or waivers, to secure federal approval for this coverage. It specifies that coverage delivery will occur through either the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act or the traditional Medicaid program, depending on the mother's eligibility. Additionally, the department is directed to request that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services utilize Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for this initiative. The legislation also grants the department the authority to promulgate rules to implement these changes.