Arkansas will target nine areas for Medicaid reform

Arkansas officials have selected nine ares that they want to focus on in changing how Medicaid pays for services. The state was provided approval to move forward with plans to switch from a fee-for-service model that Medicaid uses to paying for partnerships of local providers for episodes of care instead of individual treatment. The areas included: pregnancy and neonatal care, ADHD, type 2 diabetes, back pain, cardiovascular disease, upper respiratory infections, developmental disabilities, long term care and prevention. The Arkansas Medicaid program still faces a shortfall of at least $60 million in the budget that begins July, 2012.