Arkansas Senate Bill SB278

Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/23
• Refer: 2/15/23
• Failed: 5/1/23

Caption

To Terminate The Arkansas Health And Opportunity For Me Program; And To Transfer All Beneficiaries In The Arkansas Home And Opportunity For Me Program To The Traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program.

Impact

If enacted, SB278 will significantly impact state healthcare regulations and the delivery of services to low-income individuals in Arkansas. The bill will require the Department of Human Services to notify current program beneficiaries about the transition, effectively dissolving any specific benefits that were part of the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program. Critics of the bill are concerned that this transition may lead to decreased access to healthcare services for low-income residents, particularly for those who relied on the specialized support systems provided under the repealed program.

Summary

Senate Bill 278 aims to terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program and transfer all its beneficiaries to the traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program. The proposed legislation is set to repeal the existing program, which was designed to provide healthcare coverage to low-income individuals and families through innovative healthcare reforms. The bill outlines that the governor must submit a waiver to transition all participants enrolled in the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program to standard Medicaid coverage by July 1, 2023, and fully terminate the program by December 31, 2024.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB278 include debates over the loss of tailored healthcare services. Opponents of the legislation argue that terminating the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program removes critical resources from vulnerable populations, potentially exacerbating healthcare access issues. Advocates contend that moving beneficiaries to the traditional Medicaid system could streamline services but raise concerns about how effectively these changes will be implemented and whether they will meet the needs of the affected individuals.