The Arkansas Department of Human Services has launched a grant program for community-based organizations to assist the state's Medicaid beneficiary outreach efforts ahead of the eventual end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The public health emergency runs through at least Jan. 11. When the emergency ends, Arkansas Medicaid will redetermine eligibility for beneficiaries whose eligibility was extended solely due to the emergency, according to a Nov. 8 department news release. Arkansas Medicaid will also begin closing cases for ineligible individuals and for individuals who do not respond to requests to renew or provide information.
Ahead of that ending, the department is seeking community-based organizations to help with outreach and engagement of their local constituencies, according to the release. The organizations will also help with the renewal process in some circumstances.
Organizations with a proven track record for serving low-income children and adults, those with low incomes in rural communities, and low-income pregnant or postpartum women will be given priority for grants, according to the release.