Bill > SB306

This bill requires the Arkansas Department of Human Services to apply for a specific type of Medicaid waiver known as a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver for aging and elderly populations. The bill provides extensive context for why this waiver is necessary, highlighting that current Medicaid services do not adequately support older Arkansans who want to age in their homes or communities. The legislation notes that while skilled nursing facilities have been a traditional care option, there is a critical need for more comprehensive home-based care alternatives. The bill mandates that the Department of Human Services seek a waiver under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, with a key requirement that the average cost of home and community-based services must be cost-neutral—meaning it cannot exceed the average cost of care in a skilled nursing facility (which was approximately $102,482 per participant in fiscal year 2024). The goal is to create a more flexible and potentially more affordable care option that allows elderly Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services in their homes or communities before needing institutional care, while ensuring that the state does not incur additional expenses.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb306&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R