In March 2018, Arkansas became the third state to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a work requirement for Medicaid adults, impacting Arkansas Works enrollees aged 19 to 49. This fact sheet provides an overview of legislation leading to the work requirement and other new Arkansas Works program features, describes the exemptions and reporting obligations for the work requirement, and discusses potential litigation.
Key takeaways
- Beginning in June 2018, Arkansas Works enrollees aged 19 to 49 will be subject to the work requirement, while those 50 and older will not.
- Exemptions will be available for Arkansas Works enrollees. Enrollees who do not meet an exemption, must be employed, with a gross income that is greater than $736.78 per month (the Arkansas minimum wage of $8.50 per hour multiplied by 20 hours per week at 4.334 weeks per month), or have a combination of work activities, which may include employment hours, totaling 80 hours per month.
- Litigation has the potential to stall implementation of work requirements in Arkansas and other states.
