State Legislative Review Committee Approves Medicaid Rule for Pacific Island COFA Citizens

Pacific Islanders, including thousands of Marshallese adults legally residing in Arkansas under a Compact of Free Association, are free to enroll in Medicaid. Congress restored the entitlement to COFA migrants last year after it was nullified in 1996 during welfare reform. Sen. Lance Eads, R-West Fork, authored a non-binding legislative resolution supporting the entitlement as the Marshallese Educational Initiative prepares to assist qualified islanders with enrollment.