Arkansas Medicaid enrollees struggling to report work hours to state

New data released by the state of Arkansas on Wednesday show Medicaid enrollees are struggling to comply with the state's new work requirements, putting thousands at risk of losing health care (Source: “Arkansas Medicaid work requirements could cost thousands coverage, data show,” The Hill, Aug. 15, 2018).

The requirements — which mandate that some Medicaid beneficiaries work or complete similar activities to retain benefits — went into effect in June after being approved by the Trump administration.  Beneficiaries who don't report their work activities to the state, or do report but aren't meeting the 80-hour-per-month work requirement, could lose coverage if they don't meet the requirements for three months out of the year. 

In July — the second month in which the work requirements were in effect — 12,722 people either failed to report their activities to the state or didn't meet the 80-hour-a-month requirement.  The vast majority of those people — about 12,587 — didn't log on to the state's Medicaid website and report their activities. The remaining 135 people did report their activities, but failed to meet the 80-hour threshold. Overall, the state said, only 844 people required to report their activities to keep coverage reported at least 80 hours of work or other activities. 

Ohio has applied for federal approval to begin a similar work requirement for Medicaid enrollees.