Arkansas is the first state to implement a Section 1115 waiver that conditions Medicaid eligibility on meeting monthly work and reporting requirements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Arkansas' waiver amendment on March 5, 2018, and the new requirements took effect for the initial group of beneficiaries on June 1, 2018. As of September 9, the state reported that more than 4,300 enrollees have lost Medicaid coverage as a result of the new work and reporting requirements, and another 5,000 were at risk of losing coverage with another month of non- compliance. This brief analyzes the early experience with implementation of work and reporting requirements in Arkansas, based on publicly available data and information, as well as targeted interviews with state officials, health plans, providers, and beneficiary advocates conducted in August and September 2018.
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