Arkansas Works enrollment declines 6% in October, up from September

The number of people enrolled in Arkansas Works fell 6% to 309,719 in October, from 330,488 in the same month in 2016, according to the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Works, formerly the private option, expanded Medicaid under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare.

In October, 2,127 people enrolled in Arkansas Works, and enrollment was up from 307,592 in September. The enrollment number includes those with premiums paid, medically frail and other. The latter two categories don’t pay premiums or cost share payments.

The number of enrollees with premiums paid increased by 2,827 to 259,350 in October, from September. Premiums payments rose to $96.789 million in October, or $373.20 per enrollee, from $96.437 million in September, or $375.94 per enrollee. Cost sharing rose to $36.676 million, or $141.42 per enrollee, from $36.546 million, or $142.47 per enrollee. Wrap services were up to $1.041 million, or $4.01 per enrollee, from $1.003 million, from $3.91 per enrollee.

Total expenditures for Arkansas Works increased to $134.507 million, or $518.63 per enrollee, from $133.986 million, or $522.32 per enrollee.

The number of medically frail declined by 1,071 to 22,851 in October. The number of other enrollees, which includes those with interim status, rose by 371 to 27,518.