SB62
To Terminate The Arkansas Health And Opportunity For Me Program; And To Transfer All Beneficiaries In The Arkansas Health And Opportunity For Me Program To The Traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
Senate Bill 62 seeks to terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) program, which was established in 2021. The bill mandates that the Department of Human Services transfer all current participants of the ARHOME program to the traditional Arkansas Medicaid program, beginning July 1, 2025. It directs the state to submit necessary federal waivers and state plan amendments to effectuate this transition. The program is set to be fully terminated by December 31, 2026. The legislation also repeals the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and eliminates associated funds, such as the ARHOME Program Trust Fund. It maintains, however, that expenses incurred by participants prior to the termination date remain eligible for payment.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are individuals currently enrolled in the ARHOME program who will be transitioned to the traditional Medicaid program. This transition may benefit participants by potentially simplifying their coverage, removing specific program requirements such as work or wellness initiatives associated with ARHOME, and providing more stable, traditional government-managed health coverage.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities negatively impacted are the private health insurance carriers that participate in the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace to provide coverage under the ARHOME model, as they will lose their role in providing these specific health plans. Additionally, organizations involved in the 'economic independence' and 'health improvement' initiatives, such as hospital-based community bridge organizations, may be negatively impacted by the loss of funding, partnerships, and specific programmatic mandates designed to address social determinants of health under the existing act.
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