HJAR May/Jun 2026

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2026 37 patients to update their information. Your patients trust you and what you tell them regarding their health coverage. You can support your patients by encour- aging them to update their contact informa- tion now. Beneficiaries can visit or call their local county office, where staff can quickly update addresses, phone numbers, and email information during the visit or call. They may also update their information and sign up to receive text and email alerts about their coverage online through the Access Arkan- sas website at: access.arkansas.gov The state’s website will have everything you need to assist your patients, including a “Resources” section with social media graphics, printable flyers, and infomercials that beneficiaries can use to learn about and prepare for the requirement. Access infor- mation at: ar.gov/engage We encourage you to utilize these re- sources and share them within your clinics, offices, and community networks. The more beneficiaries who receive timely, accurate information, the better prepared they will be for the upcoming changes. By working to- gether, we can help beneficiaries understand this new program and continue receiving the care they need. n Amber El-Amin Medicaid Communications Specialist Arkansas Department of Human Services enrollees are aware of the new requirements before they go into effect fully. Under the soft implementation starting on July 1, DHS will begin running automated processes to determine if beneficiaries are exempt, meeting, or not meeting the work and community engagement requirement. While no penalties will be in place for 2026, beneficiaries will be notified of their status based on those automated checks so they can become better familiar with the requirement and ensure they are positioned to meet the requirement in 2027. DHS is working with partners, includ- ing sister agencies, and is in the process of obtaining a vendor for a customer service center that will perform outbound commu- nications, including calls, to verify commu- nity engagement status when the automated processes do not confirm it. That vendor will begin reaching out to beneficiaries in De- cember leading up to the full launch of the program, and beneficiaries will also be able to report activities by phone, online, or at their local DHS county office. Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, beneficiaries who do not meet the com- munity engagement requirement will have 30 days to show compliance before their Med- icaid benefits are suspended. As medical providers, you play a key role in sharing this message and encouraging your THE Arkansas Department of Human Ser- vices (DHS) will launch a soft implementation of new work and community engagement requirements for many Medicaid beneficia- ries starting July 1, but no penalties will be in effect until Jan. 1, 2027. Under the 2025 federal budget reconcili- ation law H.R. 1, states are required to en- force that able-bodied beneficiaries served by Medicaid expansion programs, such as Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME), engage in work, volunteer ser- vice, or educational activities for a minimum of 20 hours per week (80 hours per month). According to federal and state policy guid- ance, the purpose of this requirement is to help nonexempt beneficiaries between the ages of 19 and 64 achieve economic inde- pendence and improve their overall health and well-being. We understand that this transition will be an adjustment not only for beneficiaries but also for providers. Our goal is to make the process as smooth and transparent as possi- ble while ensuring that both beneficiaries and providers fully understand the requirement. The soft implementation will serve as a preparation period to help the state further refine the program, educate beneficiaries, partners, and providers, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that all expansion