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Patient Organizations Concerned by the Loss of Health Coverage for Nearly 75,000 Arkansans

Patients Face Uncertainty as the State Continues its Redetermination of Benefits

May 11, 2023

Patient Organizations Concerned by the Loss of Health Coverage for Nearly
75,000 Arkansans

-- Patients Face Uncertainty as the State Continues its Redetermination of Benefits --

LITTLE ROCK, AR –MAY 10, 2023 – On Monday, the Arkansas Department of Human Services released a report showing that nearly 75,000 Arkansans lost Medicaid coverage in the first two months of the state’s redetermination of eligibility. More than 85% of them lost coverage for procedural reasons, not necessarily because they were no longer eligible.  A few of the top reasons for coverage loss listed included not receiving a notice from the state, failure to respond to that notice or returned mail. This high rate of procedural terminations is unacceptable and cause for alarm.

As organizations that represent and advocate for patients and their families, we are deeply concerned about tens of thousands of Arkansans unnecessarily facing gaps in insurance coverage or becoming uninsured longer-term. For children and people with serious, acute and chronic conditions, continuous coverage is critical for successful treatment and quality of life.

Our organizations call upon the Sanders administration to pause the redeterminations process and conduct a thorough analysis of issues and problems that might be preventing Arkansans from receiving and completing their paperwork. It is imperative that the Sanders administration and the Department of Human Services evaluate this troubling report and determine why the percentage of administrative issues is so high before continuing the redetermination process.

Arkansans deserve and need access to care and coverage through Medicaid if they are eligible and the
Department of Human Services must use every tool and process available to confirm that those losing
coverage are no longer eligible.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association
American Kidney Fund
American Lung Association
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation
Hemophilia Federation of America
Immune Deficiency Foundation
Lupus Foundation of America
March of Dimes
National Health Council
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Kidney Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Psoriasis Foundation
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Susan G. Komen
The AIDS Institute
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society