HJAR May/Jun 2025

34 MAY / JUN 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS MEDICAID COLUMN MEDICAID GOV. SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS earlier this year announced a plan to implement a work and community engagement require- ment for non-disabled, working-age Med- icaid beneficiaries enrolled in the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) Medicaid 1115 Waiver. TheArkansas Department of Human Ser- vices (DHS) in March submitted an amend- ment to the Centers for Medicare and Med- icaid Services with a goal of implementing this transformative program by Jan. 1, 2026. Dubbed Pathway to Prosperity, this initia- tive is designed to improve health outcomes and promote economic self-sufficiency for the nearly 200,000 able-bodied adults enrolled in a qualified health plan, or QHP, in the state’s Medicaid expansion. We know that poverty is directly linked to poor health outcomes and economic insecurity. This in- novative amendment will help Arkansans move out of poverty, better their health, and improve their economic stability. Medicaid has historically provided a safety net for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, low-income children, and their caretakers. However, with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), eligibility for Medicaid expanded to include able-bodied adults ages 19–64 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Recognizing that many individuals within this group are capable of working or engaging in community service, Arkansas is implementing Pathway to Pros- perity to encourage workforce participation and enhance long-term well-being. Bridging the Gap Between Health and Economic Stability Pathway to Prosperity builds on lessons learned from Arkansas’s earlier attempt to introduce work requirements through the Arkansas Works program in 2018–19. While well-intentioned, Arkansas Works high- lighted critical challenges, such as confu- sion about participation requirements and technological barriers that prevented some PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY: Redefining Medicaid for Better Health & Economic Outcomes