Tobacco-settlement-funded programs report progress; Medicaid expansion covers four target populations

Emily Lane, project director for Tobacco Settlement Commission evaluations at the University of Central Arkansas, briefed the committee on the January–March 2023 quarterly report, saying 95% of stated program goals were on track and that community outreach increased as COVID restrictions eased.

Lane noted a USDA grant of about $350,000 awarded to Centers on Aging for virtual-reality dementia education and connected that funding to earlier Alzheimer’s presentation materials.

Mary Franklin, director of the DHS Division of County Operations, described the Tobacco Settlement Medicaid Expansion program’s four target populations: (1) pregnant women (income thresholds reported as between 133% and 214% of federal poverty level; benefits expanded to full state-plan services in January 2023), (2) adults 19–64 with increased inpatient/outpatient reimbursement beyond day 20 via a state–federal match, (3) the AR Seniors Program covering seniors at or below 80% of FPL with full state-plan services, and (4) funding for 500 additional slots in the community and employment supports waiver administered by Division of Developmental Disability Services.

Franklin said DHS will take questions and that committee members had no objections; the item stood reviewed.