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Arkansas will use its Medicaid
demonstration to test health-related social needs interventions as key
components of overall health for certain groups of Medicaid beneficiaries
Today, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), approved an amendment to Arkansas’ Medicaid section 1115
demonstration that will test innovative interventions to address housing and
food insecurity, as well as other critical health-related social needs.
Like recently approved section 1115 demonstration initiatives in Arizona, Massachusetts,
and Oregon, the amendment to the Arkansas
Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) demonstration will drive better
health and wellbeing outcomes for beneficiaries in crisis by providing
medically necessary support services, particularly for young people,
pregnant and postpartum women, and those dealing with mental illness and
substance use diagnoses.
“Everyone deserves the chance to
receive the care they need to live safe and healthy lives,” said HHS
Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to
expanding access to health care, and strengthening Medicaid is key to this
effort. We are proud to work with Arkansas to further these efforts and
urge other states to do the same.”
“With this demonstration, Arkansas
has taken a significant step toward advancing whole-person care for people
with health-related social needs,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita
Brooks-LaSure. “We are glad to partner with the state to advance services
and supports that can expand access to high-quality, affordable care
targeting a person’s comprehensive health needs.”
The approved amendment will address
various health-related social needs among targeted populations through
coverage of intensive care coordination and other person-centered supports
provided by “Life360 HOMEs.” Life360 HOMEs are designed to connect people
to necessary health services and community supports while actively engaging
participants in promoting their own health.
The state will work with local
hospitals and community partners to advance three types of Life360 HOMEs:
·
Rural Life360 HOMEs will support
individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use diagnoses who
live in rural areas;
·
Maternal Life360 HOMEs will support
individuals with high-risk pregnancies up to two years postpartum; and
·
Success Life360 HOMEs will support
young adults (ages 19-24) at high-risk for long-term poverty and poor
health outcomes due to prior incarceration, involvement with the foster
care system, or involvement with the juvenile justice system, as well as
veterans ages 19-30 who are at high risk of homelessness.
CMS is also authorizing Arkansas to
provide or increase coverage for certain other services that address
health-related social needs for Life 360 HOME beneficiaries. These include
critical nutritional services, case management, outreach, and education.
CMS’ approval of these services is part of the Biden-Harris
Administration’s commitment to addressing diet-related diseases and
improving health and nutrition, as highlighted in the Administration’s
National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. In addition,
CMS is authorizing funding for certain infrastructure investments related
to health-related social needs. Consistent with CMS requirements for
section 1115 demonstrations, Arkansas is required to monitor the
demonstration systematically and have a rigorous independent evaluation
conducted to determine outcomes and impacts.
Lack of stable housing and nutrition
can impede the ability to enroll in health care coverage and access needed
care. This can create physical, social, or emotional distress that fuels
the cycle of health inequity. The support services CMS approved in this
demonstration will test interventions to stabilize and improve the housing
and nutrition of eligible Medicaid enrollees and increase the likelihood
they will keep receiving and benefitting from services to which they are
entitled.
Under the Biden-Harris
Administration, thanks to the American Rescue Plan and other efforts, more
Americans than ever before have health care coverage. Today’s approval will
build on these efforts and is consistent with President Biden’s executive
order directing federal agencies to take
action to expand affordable, quality health coverage, including by
strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
For additional information about the
ARHOME section 1115 demonstration, please visit Medicaid.gov.
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