Work and Community Engagement Overview Registered Reporter Information

Arkansas Works Coverage Types Traditional Medicaid Private Plan Determined to be “medically frail” by application questions Medicaid Card (uses Medicaid card to receive medical services) Determined to be not “medically frail” by application questions Health Insurance Card (uses Health Insurance Card to receive medical services) NO MEDICAID CARD Plan chosen by enrollee after approval (or during open enrollment) Can choose between plans offered by Ambetter, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, or QualChoice

AR Works Recipients will fit into one of three groups: Not Subject to Work & Community Engagement Requirement Subject to Work & Community Engagement Requirement 1 2 Exempt 3 Required to Report Work Activities Enrollees age 50 or older Work requirement does not apply beginning the month in which the enrollee turns 50 Not at risk for losing Medicaid coverage Enrollees age 19-49* Meet an exemption – not required to report work activities Not at risk for losing Medicaid coverage Enrollees age 19-49* Do not meet an exemption Will lose Medicaid coverage at the end of the 3rd month of non-compliance *Work Requirement will not apply to enrollees ages 19-29 in 2018, but will apply in future years. Enrollees ages 30-49 will be phased in to the work requirement between June and September.

Exemptions 2 Exempt Subject to Work & Community Engagement Requirement Criteria Validation Approach Identify at Application or using State data? State Verifies Information Currently receiving a SNAP exemption Validated against state data every 30 days Y Receiving TEA Cash Assistance Arkansas Works Application, Portal, or Change in Circumstance Submission Employed > 80 hours/month Demonstration (income > AR min wage x 80/month) valid until renewal or change in circumstance Medically frail Demonstration valid until change in circumstance Living in home with dependent minor Pregnancy Demonstration valid until end of post-partum care Caring for incapacitated person Demonstration required every 2 months or at renewal, whichever is sooner N (report on portal only) Short-term incapacitation Participation in alcohol or drug treatment program Full-time Education, Job Training, or Vocational Training Demonstration required every 6 months or at renewal, whichever is sooner Receiving unemployment benefits State to verify demonstrations for a sample of enrollees Subject to Work & Community Engagement Requirement 2 Exempt Enrollees age 19-49 Meet an exemption – not required to report work activities Not at risk for losing Medicaid coverage Information collection for catastrophic events to be handled on a case-by-case basis

Work & Community Engagement Activities Subject to Work & Community Engagement Requirement Criteria Validation Approach Arkansas Works Application, Portal, or Change in Circumstance Submission Work < 80 hours/month Demonstrate monthly Education (less than full time) Job Training (WIOA, refugee, etc.) (less than full time) Vocational Training (less than full time) Volunteer Job Search / Job Search Training Demonstrate monthly; must be less than 50% of reported hours each month Health Education Class Demonstrate monthly; cannot count for more than 20 hours per year Currently meeting SNAP work requirement Validated against state data every 30 days State to verify demonstrations for a sample of enrollees 3 Required to Report Work Activities Enrollees age 19-49 Do not meet an exemption Will lose Medicaid coverage at the end of the 3rd month of non- compliance Information collection for catastrophic events to be handled on a case-by-case basis

DWS and the Arkansas Workforce Centers can assist enrollees… The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services has Arkansas Workforce Centers across the state that work with enrollees about job openings, how to look for a job, training programs, and more. Enrollees who are unemployed or currently employed but need a better job, can receive help from DWS and its Arkansas Workforce Centers. Check out the DWS website (www.dws.arkansas.gov) for more information

Work Activity and Community Engagement requirements can be met through volunteer opportunities You can comply with the Arkansas Works work requirement by completing volunteer hours each month. The total work activity hours much reach (or exceed) 80 each month. The 80 hours can be achieved through one type of work activity of through a combination of work activities. Volunteer Opportunities can be found through the Arkansas Works Resource Dashboard by reviewing the County Specific Resources page or by accessing the Volunteer AR website. According to Medical Services Policy F-200 #5 … Enrollees age 19-49 that are not employed or self-employed at least 80 hours per month but participate in any one or a combination of work activities for at least 80 hours per month to meet the work and community engagement requirement. (See MS G-190) Work activities include: a. Currently meeting SNAP Requirement to Work; b. Enrolled in education (less than full time); c. Participating in job training (less than full time); d. Participating in vocational training (less than full time); e. Participating in a health education class; f. Volunteering; or g. Conducting an independent job search and/or participating in job search training. NOTE: A combination of employment hours and work activities may be used to meet the work and community engagement requirement. Work Activities: Work activities can be performed alone or in combination to comply with the Work Requirement. Total monthly Work Activity hours must equal 80 at a minimum. A combination of employment hours and work activities may be used to meet the work requirement. If the individual uses a combination of sufficient employment hours and work activities to meet Check out the VolunteerAR website (www.volunteerar.org) for more information

Enrollees who are also students… Example 1: Jessica is enrolled in 12 credit hours for the semester at a local university. Jessica reports her student activity on Access Arkansas. Reporting Period Semester Credit Hours Work Activity Hours Week One 12 30 Week Two 12 30 Week Three 12 30 Week Four 12 30   Total Monthly Work Activity Hours 120* *1 credit hour = 2.5 work activity hours. *Jessica will receive an exemption from the work requirement for up to six months because she has more than 80 student work activity hours for one month. Example 2: Ashley is enrolled in 6 credit hours for the semester at a local college. Ashley reports her student activity on Access Arkansas. Week One 6 15 Week Two 6 15 Week Three 6 15 Week Four 6 15 60** **1 credit hour = 2.5 work activity hours. **Ashley does not have enough student work activity hours to be compliant with the work requirement. Ashley will need to report additional work activities each month and meet or exceed 80 work activity hours in total to be considered compliant. *Recipients of Arkansas Works who are subject to the work requirement must have at least 80 student work activity hours to receive an exemption. **Recipients of Arkansas Works who are subject to the work requirement and have less than 80 student work activity hours during a reporting month must perform and report additional work activities to be compliant. These recipients must report every month. Flyer available in County Offices or on DHS Website (humanservices.arkansas.gov)

What if my client is unable to do all that computer work? Let’s talk about a recently announced addition to the ways that DHS is helping clients fulfill their reporting requirements for Arkansas Works. Let’s talk about Registered Reporters.

What is a Registered Reporter? A trusted individual Arkansas Works enrollees ask to assist them with reporting work and community engagement activities or exemptions.

How does a enrollee “authorize” a Registered Reporter? The enrollee must complete an Authorization Form The Registered Reporter must complete an Acknowledgement Form

The authorization process requires an Authorization Form be completed by the enrollee. Available in County Offices or on DHS website (humanservices.arkansas.gov)

An Acknowledgement Form and two trainings must be completed by Registered Reporter. Available in County Offices or on DHS website (humanservices.arkansas.gov)

What two trainings must the Registered Reporter complete? Reporting Walkthrough Linking Walkthrough These materials are available on the DHS website through the Arkansas Works Information banner.

Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield What are the preferred entities for Registered Reporters? These include but are not limited to: Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield 1-877-617-0390 Arkansas Health & Wellness (AMBetter) 1-800-238-8379

A Revocation Form can be completed by any customer wanting to remove a Register Reporter. Available in County Offices or on DHS website (humanservices.arkansas.gov)

What happens if a circumstance hindered my client from completing or reporting activities? Recipients who can demonstrate good cause for failing to meet or report the work requirements will not have a month of non-compliance accrued.

What is Good Cause? Good cause is defined as an adequate reason for failing to take a certain action prescribed by law. Good cause will be determined if a recipient’s circumstances hindered them from being able to achieve one of the following: Completing their work activities Reporting their work activities Reporting their exemptions

What are examples of recognized Good Cause exemptions? The recipient or family member has a unexpected disability and were unable to meet the work requirements for reasons related to that disability. The recipient or an immediate family member experiences hospitalization or serious illness.

What are examples of recognized Good Cause exemptions? (cont’d.) The recipient experiences the birth or death of another family member living in the home. The recipient experiences severe inclement weather (including a natural disaster).

What are examples of recognized Good Cause exemptions? (cont’d.) The recipient has a family emergency or other life-changing event such as divorce, domestic violence, homelessness, or house fire. NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive. Each good cause exemption request will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

How does my client request a Good Cause exemption? The client, providers, carriers, or anyone with knowledge of the client’s circumstances can request a good cause exemption by contacting their local county office or by emailing: AWGoodCauseRequest@dhs.arkansas.gov

What should an email regarding Good Cause include? The email should include contact information of the individual sending the email (Ex: Registered Reporter), the client’s contact information (if the client was not the author of the email), the month good cause occurred, and a brief description of the extenuating circumstance.

Questions?