1. Arkansas Process Improvement Project
Derick Easter, Arkansas Advocates
John Kennedy, DHS
Mary Jane Harris, DHS
Sharon Benton, Poplar House Clinic

2. What is the Problem?
RETENTION: There is a perception that a significant number of eligible children lose coverage each year.
The below chart for July – September 2002 shows ARKids cases closed each month due to the family not returning the re-enrollment form and the number that was subsequently reopened within three, six and 12 months.
Statewide 45% of the closures for this one quarter was reopened within 12 months.

3. Reach out to families at risk of losing Coverage:
Goal Statement
Reach out to families at risk of losing Coverage:
Decrease the percentage of Medicaid case closures by one-third within 6 months (January 1, 2004 – June 30, 2004) by calling families that fail to return their renewal form and conduct re-enrollment via the telephone.

4. Changes Implemented to Date
ARKids B expansion was implemented in September 1997
In August 2000, started using a simplified joint application
Allowed for a self declaration of income
Removed the face-to-face interview process
In August 2001, eliminated the assets test

5. While we have done some outreach around re-enrollment, such as:
Conclusions
While we have done some outreach around re-enrollment, such as:
Having all Medicaid PCP offices distribute re-enrollment reminders to their patients.
Placing posters about re-enrollment in the PCP offices.
Mail re-enrollment reminders to the clients homes.
In all trainings and presentations, re-enrollment is reinforced.
There is still a lot of work to be
done around retention in Arkansas!