Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:28.400> has believe it is the fourth time DHS has believe it is the fourth time DHS
• fraud, and DHS hates fraud. fraud, and DHS hates fraud.
• <00:31:17.600> DHS.
• DHS. We do our own data analysis. Right. DHS.
• contacted my insurance company and DHS. contacted my insurance company and DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:48.360> or administration of benefits by DHS or administration of benefits by DHS or
• I maybe someone from DHS question for DHS. Thank you. Co-Chair Noor, I...
• maybe ask DHS and committee those questions today.
• maybe ask DHS and committee those questions today.
• maybe ask DHS and committee those questions today.

Bills: HF1662, HF2115, HF2159, HF1095, HF2160

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:17.280> is documentation requirements so DHS is documentation requirements so DHS is
• <00:24:38.120> and um research that um comes from DHS and um research that um comes from DHS
• David and Fraser and complain about DHS every day.
• If DHS would have been able to be there on site, even in that case DHS was not even able to respond to
• If DHS would have been able to be there on site, even in that case DHS was not even able to respond to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from DHS on its early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) study and related licensing proposal. Christy Grom explained that EIDBI is a Medical Assistance state plan service for children and young adults under 21 with autism or related conditions, and that DHS’s multi-phase evaluation included standards review, community engagement, and a comparison with other states. She said the service is important but that DHS identified gaps in oversight, including stretched clinical supervision, providers affiliated with many centers, out-of-state providers, and rapid growth in enrollment that has outpaced current monitoring capacity. DHS’s main recommendation was to create a provisional license for EIDBI in Chapter 245A as an immediate step, with later work toward full licensing standards. The proposal would let DHS identify controlling individuals, disqualify ineligible people, investigate maltreatment, suspend or revoke licenses, require background studies and qualifications before service delivery, move EIDBI providers into a higher-risk category for revalidation, and make DHS the lead investigative agency for maltreatment. DHS also recommended statutory standards for supervision, caseloads, training, and documentation, while emphasizing the need to balance oversight with continued access to services. Grom said the provisional licensure proposal is part of the governor’s budget and that DHS hopes to begin implementation in 2025, with a possible full license start date in 2028. Testifiers then spoke in support of EIDBI while urging the committee to preserve access and include more community input. Ana Hagi Muhammad, a parent of three autistic children and a Somali community advocate, said EIDBI has been beneficial for her family and that community organizations serving Somali families have not been sufficiently engaged in DHS’s process. Ana Muhammad, a Black mother of a young autistic child, said ABA has helped her son with communication, self-regulation, and independence, and asked that discussions reflect the diversity of family experiences. Committee members asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and to identify which modality they use, and the chair indicated the committee would continue hearing from additional testifiers before further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe he will bring his unique energy, enthusiasm, compassion, and vigorous imagination to DHS.
• I believe he will bring his unique energy, enthusiasm, compassion, and vigorous imagination to DHS.
• Does DHS have anything like that, or are they going to work with the Department of Transportation?
• DHS have anything like that, or are they going to work with the Department of Transportation?
• Our DHS proper staff are committed. They've been working hard.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DHS in that process.
• separate Administration within uh DHS separate Administration within uh DHS today<00:10:22.959><
• funding remember I talked about DHS funding remember I talked about DHS where<00:18:04.799> we
• <00:18:46.760> was uh to support those areas that DHS was uh to support those areas that DHS
• will not be replicated on the DHS side will not be replicated on the DHS side thank<00:20:49.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The finding in the FY24 departmental audit of DHS can be summarized as follows: DHS discovered DHS discovered
• Until 2013, that was held within DHS.
• Until 2013, that was held within DHS.
• There's also a component of DHS that works on that.
• I know there's also front-end education for providers provided by DHS.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hopeful that DHS will take advantage of that.
• DHS would have to answer that for you. I'm not sure.
• Does DHS have a dashboard?
• Does DHS have such a thing for people? We do not.
• Does DHS have a dashboard?

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Woodridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system that improves access, reduces red tape, and focuses on a few achievable policy changes for the 2027 session rather than many bills. Members discussed barriers such as low reimbursement, workforce shortages, licensing and credentialing hurdles, rural access problems, and the need to better use community providers, compacts, and step-down services. Director Paula Stone of DHS’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health gave a detailed overview of the behavioral health system. She said Medicaid pays for more than 75% of behavioral health services in Arkansas and explained that when people are jailed or admitted to the state hospital, Medicaid generally stops, leaving state general revenue to cover care. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder residential unit, expanded community mental health center contracts, a secured restoration unit to reduce state hospital backlogs, and an IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain residential services. She also said DHS is working on crisis services, forensic evaluations, and provider rebidding in areas previously served by ERISA. Members asked about reimbursement for jail services, the lack of a statewide behavioral health dashboard, civil commitment options, crisis stabilization units, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities for people who cannot safely return to the community. Stone said the state hospital backlog remains significant, average stays are still about 14 months, and crisis stabilization units have had mixed success, with Fort Smith and Jonesboro performing better than Fayetteville and Little Rock. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more substantive discussion planned for August.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been labeled as one of the 14 high-risk programs by DHS.
• 43.520> fix<00:07:43.760> structural DHS is attempting to fix structural DHS is attempting
• These are on the direction DHS gave us.
• It forces DHS, a replacement is ready.
• I don't know if DHS is couple questions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:12.120> DPS of 2024 various programs from DHS DPS of 2024 various programs from DHS
• DHS DHS is the designated DHS DHS is the designated agency<00:47:43.119> and<00:47:43.359
• <01:07:17.760> to representative NAD has met with DHS to representative NAD has met with DHS
• , so this is the DHS functions that DHS employs for CCAP and other, um, uh, licensing efforts.
• :15:37.480> and functions that DHS employs for CCAP and functions that DHS employs for CCAP and

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the top priority for us at DHS That is the top priority for us at DHS and<00:03:43.120><
• <00:03:58.160> oversees with the counties because DHS oversees with the counties because DHS
• Um two of the reports DHS question.
• DHS DHS DHS has<00:53:39.800> had<00:53:40.160> has<00:53:40.400> been<00:53:40.720
• hold by DHS is very important. hold by DHS is very important.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with DHS multiple times DHS<00:31:29.519> should<00:31:29.760> want<00:31:30.120> this
• <00:31:30.360> authentic DHS should want this authentic DHS should want this authentic partnership
• hold DHS hold DHS accountable<00:32:18.919> uh<00:32:19.159> and<00:32:19.480>
• This is a DHS responsibility for the safety of their clients.
• Members, tomorrow—no, Monday we have the DHS policy bills.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:34.919> over due to the transfer over from DHS over due to the transfer over from DHS
• of systems between DCYF and DHS?
• of systems between DCYF and DHS?
• of systems between DCYF and DHS?
• of systems between DCYF and DHS?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hopeful that DHS will take advantage of that.
• I'm hopeful that DHS will take advantage of that.
• DHS would have to answer that for you. I'm not sure.
• Does DHS have such a thing for people? We do not.
• Does DHS have a dashboard?

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system focused on access, workforce, reimbursement, and reducing red tape. Members raised concerns about provider shortages, licensure barriers, rural access, reimbursement rates, jail-based services, non-emergency transport, and the need for step-down options and crisis diversion before people end up in jail or the state hospital. DHS Director Paula Stone outlined the behavioral health system, emphasizing that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services in Arkansas and that many services cannot be billed once a person is in jail or the state hospital. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder unit, forensic evaluation and restoration changes, and a planned IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain psychiatric and residential services. She also explained the backlog at the state hospital and in forensic restoration, the role of therapeutic communities, and the challenges of serving rural and difficult-to-serve populations. Members asked about crisis stabilization units, civil commitment, dashboards for bed availability, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities. Stone said the state has supported crisis stabilization units in several cities, with mixed results, and noted that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock. She said DHS does not yet have a statewide bed dashboard but sees it as a useful tool. The meeting ended with agreement that the discussion was a starting point and that the committee would continue the work, tentatively in August, to develop policy ideas for the 2027 session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll again compliment and thank DHS for helping us through many of these codes.
• DHS confirmed that would be correct and described it as a bifurcated rate.
• DHS confirmed that would be correct and called it a bifurcated rate.
• I mean, unfortunately, as DHS, we don't try to guess the intent.
• I don't, I mean, unfortunately, as DHS, we don't try to guess the intent.

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas Medicaid and Department of Health rules, many implementing 2025 acts. Early items covered presumptive eligibility and Medicaid policy updates, including adding a definition of fictive kin for foster children and changing the disability onset age for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46. Another rule clarified that continuous glucose monitors may be billed by both pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers, with committee members questioning prior authorization timing, system lag, and a fiscal impact estimate of about $3 million over two years; the rule was reviewed, but members requested additional cost breakdowns. Other Medicaid-related rules addressed an RSV vaccine administration fee increase, an ET3 telemedicine exemption for ambulance treat-triage-transport services, a dental rate increase under Act 1025, expanded physical therapy access, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies package covering doulas, lactation consultants, remote monitoring, and expanded prenatal testing. Most were reviewed without objection after brief discussion or no questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:26:17.960> what experienced experienced with DHS what experienced experienced with DHS
• The legislators reviewed it with DHS and came back to us and said, sorry, that's the way DHS wants it
• DHS and then in with DHS we worked with DHS and then in last<01:29:49.320> session<01:29:49.719
• <01:31:37.040> keeps a third party consultant DHS keeps a third party consultant DHS keeps
• about and discussing actually with DHS about and discussing actually with DHS and<01:44:22.560><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• for fraud against a DHS program.
• DHS overseas are providers and payments DHS overseas are rapidly<00:23:52.559> outpacing<00:23
• with theft for fraud against a DHS with theft for fraud against a DHS program.<00:25:40.880>
• And so the money is being housed in DHS And so the money is being housed in DHS 6<00:33:59.919><
• uh pieces of this as it relates to DHS. uh pieces of this as it relates to DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand the difference between the DOE and DHS website.
• I don't think I ever think about going DHS. I think it's appropriate.
• <00:14:02.480> website DHS website DHS website is<00:14:04.960> very<00:14:05.280> supportive
• However, if I'm the DOE and DHS website.
• I be thinking about, about going DHS.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 34, concerning parental consent for student participation in the Medicaid-to-schools program. Members said they were not comfortable with a suggested amendment and wanted more information from Health and Human Services about how the program and billing work. On motion by Representative Noble, seconded by Representative Freeman, the committee voted unanimously to retain the bill, 18-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 102, which would make informational materials about type 1 diabetes available on the Department of Education website. Supporters said the bill could help parents and teachers recognize warning signs early and could be life-saving in some cases. Opponents argued the material belonged on the Health and Human Services website rather than the DOE site, and some suggested a narrower link-only approach. After discussion, the committee voted 13-5 to ought to pass, with a minority report requested. The final major item was Senate Bill 97FN on intradistrict public school transfers. The committee first adopted an amendment that incorporated provisions from House Bill 68, required superintendents to approve best-interest transfer requests unless they failed to meet requirements, and revised language on capacity and accommodation. Supporters said the changes would help students, including those facing bullying, while opponents raised concerns about local control, capacity, and fairness to families who can transport children. The amendment passed 10-8, and the bill as amended also passed 10-8, with a minority report requested. The chair then announced the next meetings would be on the 21st and 27th, and reminded members to watch the Senate calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hopeful that DHS will take advantage of that.
• I'm hopeful that DHS will take advantage of that.
• DHS would have to answer that for you. I'm not sure.
• Does DHS have a dashboard?
• DHS have a dashboard?

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to a broad discussion of behavioral health policy, taking up work previously handled by a behavioral health working group. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described major gaps in Arkansas behavioral health care, emphasizing access problems, workforce shortages, rural service barriers, low reimbursement, and the need to move from a reactive crisis system to more proactive community-based care. Members discussed possible 2027-session priorities such as reducing red tape, improving provider licensing and supervision pathways, expanding billing codes and reimbursement structures, and considering interstate compacts and other workforce fixes. A major focus was the state’s crisis and forensic system, including long waits for competency evaluations, the backlog at the Arkansas State Hospital, and the use of county jails for people awaiting treatment. DHS Director Paula Stone explained that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services, but cannot pay for services in jails or state hospitals because those individuals are treated as inmates of public institutions, leaving state general revenue to cover much of that cost. She outlined DHS efforts including secured restoration beds, therapeutic communities, community mental health center contracts for jail-based services, and plans for an institution-for-mental-disease waiver that could allow Medicaid payment for certain hospital-based services. Members also discussed crisis stabilization units, with DHS noting that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock, largely because of location, partnerships, and law enforcement coordination. Questions covered reimbursement for county jails, step-down facilities, civil commitment options, non-emergency behavioral health transportation, and whether DHS should create a bed-availability dashboard similar to hospital systems. DHS said it does not currently have such a dashboard but is exploring the idea. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more detailed discussion planned for August, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the information was not really followed up on by DHS.
• Uh, the information was not really followed up on by DHS.
• Uh, the information was not really followed up on by DHS.
• Because of their past relationship with DHS and the way that DHS has retaliated against them.
• >> Um, I believe it has all been sent over to DHS.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:30.400> 2.0 in the first year I believe um DHS 2.0 in the first year I believe um DHS
• So, uh, 6% of the DHS budget is in other forecasted programs.
• So, uh, 6% of the DHS budget is in other forecasted programs.
• <01:40:22.679> uh dcyf uh part of DCF was with DHS uh dcyf uh part of DCF was with DHS uh
• that used to be uh it is part of the DHS that used to be uh it is part of the DHS yeah<01:48:26.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all