Federal officials have approved a six-month temporary extension of Arkansas’ ARHOME waiver beginning Jan. 1, 2027, giving state officials more time to develop a new delivery model for Medicaid expansion, the Arkansas Department of Human Services announced.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the extension for Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me, known as ARHOME, while discussions continue over the program’s future.
DHS Secretary Janet Mann sent a letter Aug. 5 seeking a temporary extension following discussions with CMS, according to the department.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the approval gives her administration time to work with lawmakers on a replacement delivery model.
“We are thankful to Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and our other partners at CMS for approving Arkansas’ request for an extension on the ARHOME waiver,” Sanders said. “This gives our administration time to work with our partners in the legislature to develop a new delivery model for Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion that ensures Arkansans in need continue to receive care.”
Mann said DHS will continue discussions with its partners as the agency develops the new model.
“We look forward to continuing our conversations with our partners as we build a new delivery model for this program, and our commitment to responsible stewardship of resources and connecting eligible Arkansans to quality health care will remain our focus,” Mann said.
DHS said the discussions about ARHOME’s delivery model do not affect the rollout of community engagement and work requirements for people enrolled in Medicaid expansion.
Those requirements entered a soft launch July 1. Full implementation, including penalties for noncompliance, is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027.
The requirements will apply to ARHOME enrollees ages 19 to 64 unless they qualify for an exemption. DHS cited pregnant and postpartum women, veterans with disabilities, caregivers and people with special medical needs as examples of exempt groups.
More information about the requirements and exemptions is available at ar.gov/engage.
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