LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a temporary extension for the state’s ARHOME waiver. The extension gives DHS and Governor Sarah Sanders’ administration additional time to craft a new delivery model for the state’s Medicaid expansion program.
Extension approved after formal request
According to a DHS release, Secretary Janet Mann sent a formal letter to CMS on August 5 requesting the extension after a series of discussions with federal officials. “We are grateful to Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and our other partners at CMS for approving Arkansas’ request for an extension on the ARHOME waiver,” Governor Sanders said. “This gives our administration time to work with our partners in the legislature to develop a new delivery model for Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion that ensures Arkansans in need continue to receive care.”
New delivery model and work requirements
The revised model will maintain community‑engagement goals while introducing updated work‑requirement criteria. Starting January 1, 2027, penalties will be imposed on beneficiaries who fail to meet the new requirements, unless they fall into an exempt category. Exemptions include pregnant and postpartum women, disabled veterans, caregivers, and individuals with special medical needs.
Secretary Mann added, “We look forward to continuing our conversations with our partners as we build a new delivery model for this program, and our commitment to responsible stewardship of resources and connecting eligible Arkansans to quality health care will remain our focus.”
Impact on Arkansas families
The extension ensures that there will be no interruption in services for the roughly 200,000 Arkansans currently enrolled in ARHOME. DHS emphasized that ongoing discussions about the service‑delivery model will not affect the implementation of community‑engagement and work‑objective initiatives already in place.
Local advocacy groups have welcomed the extension, noting that it provides a window for meaningful input from families and community organizations. “We appreciate the state’s willingness to listen to Arkansans and to design a program that balances personal responsibility with compassionate care,” said a spokesperson for the Arkansas Family Advocacy Network.
Next steps
State legislators are expected to review the proposed delivery model during the upcoming session. DHS will release a detailed toolkit to help beneficiaries understand the new work‑requirement expectations and the process for applying for exemptions.
For full details on the ARHOME waiver extension and the upcoming changes, visit the Arkansas DHS website.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
