Don’t miss the important changes happening to AR Works! If you’re confused about it, many great resources exist to help you understand. When in doubt, ask. You don’t want to lost coverage!
Tag: Healthcare
AR Choices Training
Here’s some training by Legal Aid about AR Choices
PASSE – Phase II Updates
DHS recently released a new presentation with updates to their work on the PASSEs Phase II. This includes milestones and network adequacy standards, and where they are with Independent Assessments.
They did listen to our concern that people have been enrolled before the networks were adequately formed, and they will hold open enrollment in October of 2018.
Catch up on all previous PASSE posts!
2018 Election Info
It’s election season! In fact, early voting for primaries has begun. That means it’s time for you to do some homework and make decisions about which issues are most important to you. Sometimes your values on different issues may clash, which is why it’s important to rank one of them as most important to you.
Medicaid is a hot topic. We’ve seen a lot of change, and depending on the officials we elect, we may see even more. That’s why it’s important to be informed about election deadlines, requirements, and the candidates.
Your first question might be:
Who’s running?
Next you’re probably asking:
What are the deadlines?
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives will take place soon!
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018.
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- primary runoff election – June 19, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
All 100 House seats are up for election in 2018. Arkansas state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years.
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate are also happening soon.
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018,
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- primary runoff election – June 19, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
A total of 18 seats out of the chamber’s 35 seats are up for election in 2018.Arkansas state senators serve one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade.
Arkansas will also hold elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 1, 2018.
The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives will hold elections
- candidate filing deadline – March 1, 2018,
- primary election – May 22, 2018.
- general election – November 6, 2018.
Arkansans elect representatives to the U.S. House, one from each of the state’s four congressional districts.
How can I be informed about the candidates?
As candidates are campaigning, make sure you take every opportunity to inform yourself. Know what questions to ask!
Have I met the requirements to vote?
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Arkansas you should provide one of the following:
- The Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your Arkansas Driver’s License Number
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Utility Bill
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.
Voting In-Person
In Arkansas, you need to show a valid ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:
- Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Government Check
- Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
- Veteran Health ID Issued by US Department of Veterans Affairs
Where should I vote?
What if you don’t agree with your Assessment results?
Even though many people may not need to appeal, several of you have asked before about how to appeal your Independent Assessment if you aren’t satisfied with your tier placement. We asked DHS for the appeal policy.
Watch for more resources on how to appeal, tips, and what your rights are!
DHS says that below is the information that you will receive with your Independent Assessment results packet. Each person will receive this notice after his/her IA has been scored. These results packets began going out Friday. Some individuals began receiving PASSE services prior to the receipt of their results packets.
If you do not agree with your assessment results:
You, your representative, and your provider have the right to request a hearing.
Requirements for the request:
- the request must be received at the DHS Office of Appeals and Hearings’ address below no later than (date calculated from notice mailing date [35 days + mailing date])
- Please put your request for a hearing and for any services in writing. With your request, please include a
copy of this letter and mail it to:
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Office of Appeals & Hearings
P.O. Box 1437, Slot N401
Little Rock, AR 72203
Division of Medical Services
If you ask for a hearing, these are your rights, per DHS:
- You may go to the hearing
- You may be represented by a lawyer or any other person you choose
- Before the hearing, you have the right to see your record and any other evidence to be used at the hearing
- You have the right to present your own evidence
- You have the right to bring your own witnesses
- You have the right to question any witness against you
- You have the right to request, if applicable, certain current services continue “as is” pending an appeal decision if your request is received at the Office of Appeals and Hearings’ address listed above by (date calculated from notice mailing date [15 days + mailing date])
You may be able to get free legal aid.
If you need legal help, DHS sends these recommendations:
- Call the Arkansas Legal Services Helpline Center at 501-376-3423 (Pulaski County only) or 800-952-9243
- Go to www.arkansaslegalservices.org. Click on the Helpline icon.
DHS also recommended the following link might be helpful to review: http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/occ/DHSPolicy1098.pdf to understand the process.
Watch for more resources on how to appeal, tips, and what your rights are!
MSL has attended presentations by other community resources such as Disabily Rights Arkansas who have explained in more detail what to put in your letter and tips you might need. One very important thing to do is MAKE SURE TO KEEP EVERYTHING MAILED TO YOU AS WELL AS ALL ASSESSMENTS OR THINGS THAT COULD BE USED AT THE HEARING. We will be collaborating with these other organizations to release more resources as soon as we can!
Latest DHS Notice: AR Works Changes
This notice was released by DHS today!
From April 2-8, individuals who receive their health care benefits through Arkansas Works and are 30-49 years old will be receiving letters in the mail that contain a reference number to link their online accounts to the Access Arkansas Work Requirement website.
The website, which launched over the weekend, is where beneficiaires will report work, job training, education and other activities if they are subject to the work requirement. It also is how they will report and update activities that could qualify them for an exemption. Individuals can begin linking their accounts and reporting exemptions now.
DHS is phasing in the work requirement starting June 1. People who are subject to the requirement as of June 1, and must begin reporting work activities, will be notifiedt in May.
To assist beneficiaries in creating these online accounts, and to let them know where to find their reference numbers, DHS produced the video below (also found at https://youtu.be/pkfct7Px3MQ). The video also has been posted to the Arkansas DHS Facebook page (@ArkDHS). Feel free to share this video and update your audience regarding the information in that message.
We encourage all beneficiaries to create and link an online account to the website before they are required to start reporting work activities.
A sample of the notice that beneficiaries will be receiving over the next week can be found here: https://bit.ly/2JaXfrs. Please contact Marci Manley at marci.manley@dhs.arkansas.gov if you have questions or need additional information.
Work Requirement News: Exemptions by Age
News from the Kaiser Family Foundation
“In 8 of the 10 states w/ approved or pending waivers as of March, #Medicaid #workrequirements would apply to all or most older nonelderly adults. #AR & #WI would exempt those age 50+. #AZ would exempt 55 and older and #IN & #UT would exempt 60 and older.”
kaiserf.am/2GITTxz
Health Policy Advocacy Toolkit
Here’s a health policy toolkit to help you understand advocacy and policy. You can apply this to your efforts to advocate for Medicaid recipients.
Self-Advocate’s Guide to Medicaid
Why reinvent the wheel? ASAN already has this great resource to help you understand Medicaid, no matter which state you live in.
PASSE Q&A Follow-up
DHS recently hosted a FB live about the PASSE to answer our questions, but some of your questions were not answered at that time. The images below show DHS’s follow-up answers to some of the questions.
For those of you who would like to go back and watch the Facebook live video from January 19, click here.
Medicaid Saves Lives 