Here are four things to know.
1. The governor seeks an amendment to the Arkansas Works Medicaid waiver that would move the financial eligibility cap of the program from 138 percent of the federal poverty level to 100 percent, according to a news release.
2. He also seeks to add a work requirement for non-disabled adults “that aligns with other public assistance programs, such as SNAP.”
3. Gov. Hutchinson said other waiver amendments he is seeking include strengthening employer-sponsored insurance and making Arkansas an “assessment state” rather than a “determination state.” This would mean Arkansas would control the eligibility process, the release states.
4. “I have directed my Department of Human Services to file waiver amendment requests with the Trump administration that will continue the reform efforts we started last year with Arkansas Works,” the governor said in the release. “The amendments will focus on meaningful work requirements, emphasizing employer-based insurance, and reducing the numbers in Arkansas Works to create a stronger and more sustainable program.
“I have spoken with [HHS] Secretary [Tom] Price and the Trump administration about our plans to file these waiver amendments, and they’ve conveyed to me that the requests are consistent with the overall objectives of reform efforts in Washington.”
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