Last week, DHS released a draft of the waiver it needs approved by the federal government to move forward with implementation of the “Private Option” Medicaid expansion.  This “Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver” exempts Arkansas Medicaid from several federal Medicaid rules in order to test the Private Option.  We are finalizing our analysis of the waiver and its impact on children and families, but in the meantime we wanted to alert you of the opportunity to give feedback in person.  Thankfully, new federal rules require a public notice and public comment period for all new waivers, so Arkansas has 30 days (June 24 – July 24) to give written or oral feedback.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., DHS will be hosting its first in-person and webcast public meeting to gather feedback on the waiver.  You can attend in person at the UAMS I. Dodd Wilson Building, room 126, or you can watch online by signing up here.

In the coming days, we will share a publication that highlights issues in the waiver that affect children and families as well as official draft comments you can use to create your own feedback for state officials.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions in the meantime!