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Arkansas Readies For First In Nation Medicaid Work Requirement Rollout

Gov. Asa Hutchinson with CMS Director Seema Verma holding a signed and approved waiver for Arkansas's Medicaid program.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson with CMS Director Seema Verma holding a signed and approved waiver for Arkansas's Medicaid program.

KUAR's Jacob Kauffman speak with Anuj Gangopadhyaya about Arkansas's new Medicaid work requirements.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson with CMS Director Seema Verma holding a signed and approved waiver for Arkansas's Medicaid program.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson with CMS Director Seema Verma holding a signed and approved waiver for Arkansas's Medicaid program.

Arkansas is one of just a few states that is choosing to implement work-related requirements, in order for people to keep getting health insurance through Medicaid. The state also stands out for requiring that the verification process be done online.

That could mean trouble for low-income beneficiaries, who happen to live in a state with some of the worst access to the internet in the nation. The rollout of the new requirements begins June 1st.

KUAR’s Jacob Kauffman spoke with Anuj Gangopadhyaya with the Urban Institue about the state’s new restrictions on healthcare. Gangopadhyaya helped research a recent report on Arkansas's work requirement.

Take a listen to the interview in the audio link posted above.  

Copyright 2018 KUAR

Jacob Kauffman is a reporter and anchor for KUAR. He primarily covers the state legislature and politics beat while juggling anchoring Morning Edition Monday through Friday.