Arkansas moves to simplify new Medicaid work requirement program

WREG News Channel 3

Arkansas is making some changes to its new Medicaid work requirement program as thousands of residents lose coverage. Medicaid recipients will be able to report the hours they work each month by telephone starting December 19, the Arkansas Department of Human Services announced Wednesday.

Consumer advocates, however, say that the efforts won’t make a big difference. “This is a cosmetic change on the underlying policy that’s not working and is not going to work,” said Joan Alker, executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families. As the first state to mandate that Medicaid enrollees must work at least 80 hours a month, Arkansas is serving as a model for the rest of the nation.

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