Share the facts and faces of Arkansas Medicaid.
Show people who Medicaid cuts would hurt. Don’t give up. Keep calling and sharing.
Data source is credited. We have gathered several of KFF’s posts here to save you some time.
Author: medicaidsaveslives
Helpful Medicaid Data
Kaiser Family Foundation is a great source of information about Medicaid. They frequently release data about Arkansas and other states.
Fact sheet about Medicaid coverage in AR
You can find information about other states here.
How Medicaid (or cuts to it) affects special needs children
How Medicaid (or cuts to it) affects Behavioral Health recipients
How would Medicaid cuts affect veterans?
Read more.
How would Medicaid cuts affect people in nursing homes?
Read more.
How does Medicaid help Seniors?
Read more.
How would block grants or per capita caps affect Medicaid funding?
Watch & Share – “Save Medicaid” Video
This is our latest video, which urges Americans contact their Senators and features real photos of recipients from Arkansas. The Senate vote that had been set for tomorrow was delayed as of today. Let’s band together. Keep working hard to tell our lawmakers to protect our care!
ASAN Advocacy Training Resource
With the looming Medicaid cuts, people want to learn how to get involved and fast! This training resource is from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. You may be advocating for a different condition, but the information they’ve gathered here is very valuable for everyone.
Their page gives a whole list of information and strategies to effectively take action when advocating for yourself or a loved one.
- A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Getting Through to your Elected Officials
- Fact Sheet: How to Call Your Elected Officials
- Fact Sheet: In-Person Meetings with Elected Officials
- Fact Sheet: Sending Elected Officials Emails, Letters, and Faxes
Get to work!
Senate Healthcare Bill Released
Updated: 7/9/17 4:08 pm
By now, you’ve probably seen more than 10 different news stories about the Senate healthcare bill. Maybe 10 per day! But what’s the truth? Will it really cut Medicaid? Will it really affect everyone? Well, the only way for you to know is for you to read it yourself. And we can help you.
You need to read, but also, don’t stop responding. The Senate wants to vote on this bill as soon as they can come to an agreement. They’re having many negotiations behind closed doors. Let your voice be heard through those doors! These are the Arkansas Senators to contact:
Sen. John Boozman (202) 224-4843
Sen. Tom Cotton (202) 224-2353
If you’re not from Arkansas, this info pertains to you as well. Every call matters. Here’s the number for Senators across the nation: 866-426-2631
Find your states US Representative & contact his/her office
Find your state’s US Senator & contact his/her office
Contact information for all of AR Congressmen.
What’s truly in the bill?
- guide to what the bill says
- simple chart that compares the ACA (Obamacare), AHCA (House bill), and the BCRA (Senate bill).
- data and comparison of the ACA/AHCA/BCRA
- another chart to compare the bills
- A video walk-through guide of what it says with page numbers so you can investigate for yourself
- explanation of block grants and per capita caps
- research of why it affects everyone
- 10 Reasons it’s bad for AR
- How it will affect rural AR
Make sure to read the bill to form your own educated opinions. Click on the image below to access the full text, and use the resources above to help you.
Legislators of the Week – District 35
These are the legislators that we’re writing this week. Eventually we’ll get to all of them! Tell them what Medicaid is doing for you. Tell them why you’re thankful for the help. Tell them why you need it! If you’re in this district, please try to actually meet with them soon.
| Name | Phone | Address | |
| Senator Jason Rapert (R) | 501-336-0918 | P. O. Box 10388 Conway, 72034 |
Jason.Rapert@senate.ar.gov |
| Representative Clarke Tucker (D) | 501-379-1767 | 111 Center Street, Suite 1900, Little Rock, 72201 |
clarke.tucker@arkansashouse.org |
Sample of Voting Record on Medicaid Bills from the 2017 Legislative Sessions:
- SB3 to reduce the eligibility for Arkansas Works and to impose a work requirement:
- Rapert – FOR
- Tucker – AGAINST
- HB1706, Provider Led Managed Care:
- Rapert – FOR
- Tucker – 1st vote: non-voting; 2nd vote: FOR.
- HB1033, which redirected the Tobacco Settlement Fund to reduce the DDS Waiver Waiting List:
- Rapert – FOR
- Tucker – FOR
- Check out how they voted on the other bills.
THV 11: Therapy Cap to be Implemented on July 1, 2017
Catch up on the Provider Led Model (PASSE)
PASSE stands for Provider-owned Arkansas Shared Savings Entities, and this new Provider-led model is required by a law passed by the Arkansas State Legislature last spring. DHS has been told to achieve a certain amount of Medicaid cost savings, and the theory is that this model should achieve them through better management of care. Over the next year and a half, we will see a shift in the management of Medicaid care for certain recipients under the Developmental Disabilities Services and Behavioral Health Services Divisions of DHS through the implementation of this model.
During the transition time, each recipient will undergo an Independent Assessment to determine services given, and then each recipient will be assigned to one of the PASSEs. Right now, we don’t know how many PASSEs there will be or which partners each will include. That should all become clear after June 15, 2007. Once the recipient receives information about which PASSE he or she has been assigned to, he or she will have 90 days to switch to a new PASSE if desired. Everyone will be on a different timeline, so recipients won’t really be able to compare situations early on.
This transition will take place throughout 2017 and 2018 as PASSEs slowly take on responsibility. In 2019, the PASSEs will take on all responsibility of managing the care and funds for each recipient they’ve been assigned. Providers will then bill the PASSE for each client, which means that the providers have to participate in probably all PASSEs to be “in network” for their current clients and future clients.
As said before, this will only affect certain clients – classified as Tier 2 and Tier 3 – for both DD and BH. Tier 2 and 3 people are defined differently by DD and BH, but basically it’s determined by level of care needed.
As we’ve all seen, this is very complicated, and a lot of information has already been shared. Here’s your chance to catch up!
See DHS Presentations from public meetings that occurred in April 2017.
Read the law that was passed during this past spring session.
See DHS’s answers to your questions.
See in depth information from DHS about the PLM.
Legislators of the Week – District 2
These are the legislators that we’re writing this week. Eventually we’ll get to all of them! Tell them what Medicaid is doing for you. Tell them why you’re thankful for the help. Tell them why you need it! If you’re in this district, please try to actually meet with them soon.
| Name | Phone | Address | |
| Senator | 479-787-6222 | 1607 Highway 72, S.E. Gravette, 72736 |
jim.hendren@senate.ar.gov |
| Representative Lane Jean | 870-904-1856 | 1105 Lawton Circle Magnolia, 71753 |
l_jean@sbcglobal.net |
Sample of Voting Record on Medicaid Bills from the 2017 Legislative Sessions:
- SB3 from the Extraordinary Session of 2017 to reduce the eligibility for Arkansas Works and to impose a work requirement:
- Hendren – FOR
- Jean – FOR
- HB1706, Provider Led Managed Care:
- Hendren – FOR
- Jean – FOR
- HB1033, which redirected the Tobacco Settlement Fund to reduce the DDS Waiver Waiting List:
- Hendren – FOR
- Jean – FOR
- Check out how they voted on the other bills.
DHS Statement on Upcoming Therapy Changes
Medicaid Saves Lives 