Clarification

In Wednesday’s edition, the page 1A article “Changes to Medicaid program could affect Union County residents, businesses” should have included information received from the Arkansas Department of Human Services just before press time. The fully revised copy can be found at eldoradonews. com.

Marci Manley, chief deputy of communications for Arkansas DHS, said the public comment period that ended Nov. 7 for the rule changes to ARChoices was enlightening and that DHS is now working on revising the rules that were set forth before the comment period.

“We take the feedback provided in the public comment period seriously, and we are currently working on a revised final rule, which we hope will address many of the concerns from stakeholders while weighing the responsibilities we have as a state agency,” Manley said.

One of the biggest changes in the new guidelines is a 21.7 percent funding cut for assisted living facilities, under the LivingChoices Medicaid program. Care providers worry that the cut could cause closures of assisted living facilities.

Manley said DHS is working to find a solution that both DHS and assisted living providers find acceptable.

“DHS recognizes the rate change for assisted living facilities … could pose a challenge to some providers,” Manley said. “Assisted living facilities receive two separate streams of funding for Medicaid clients. Every Medicaid client in assist-

ed living must pay an amount for room and board that is calculated on the federal SSI (supplemental security income) rate … DHS is not proposing any changes to this amount. In addition, Medicaid pays the facility a daily rate for the care provided to the client by the facility. Under the proposed rule, this daily rate would decrease by an average of 21.7 percent.”

The services a caregiver may provide have also been changed by the new rules. The in-home care provider said that under the new rules, unless an ARChoices beneficiary lives alone, they will not be allowed to receive help from a care provider with housekeeping; some will no longer be entitled to help with meal preparation; and all forms of companionship will be eliminated from people’s plans of care.

Manley said DHS has received public comments about the changes

to the types of tasks caregivers may assist clients with and who may be a caregiver and that they are considering what changes may need to be made based on those comments.

“We believe that these changes incorporate our responsibility to ensure the health and safety of program participants, while allowing them an opportunity for services in the community and at home rather than an institution. At the same time, we have worked to balance those priorities with our responsibilities to the federal government’s requirements and

the responsibility we have in ensuring we use taxpayer funds responsibly. Each of those factors were considered when developing the proposals,” Manley said.

The new rules were up for public comment for thirty days through Nov. 7. The rules must still be approved by a legislative committee before they become official. Manley said the revised rules would be finalized later this week. Most of the rule changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, though Manley said the funding cuts to assisted living facilities may be phased in over time.