LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas organization is ensuring kids get the education and daycare services they need after thousands lost Medicaid coverage last year.
In December 2013, the Biden administration sent letters to nine states with the highest percentage of children who lost Medicaid, including Arkansas, and said they needed to ensure children remained covered.
Archild Development Center is a preschool for kids of all needs.
But some recent changes have made it more difficult for parents to enroll their children.
"Sometimes parents don't understand the process, and so we work really hard to try and get them those services," Archild Development Center Director Mari Dush said.
Last year, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) disenrolled 427,459 people from its Medicaid coverage as a part of eligibility redeterminations.
It was estimated that 78,000 kids lost that coverage as well.
"Anyone that has dealt with Medicaid, Medicare, government, anything else... it's not a simple you fill out this sheet, and you're good to go," Archild Billing Coordinator Kathleen Sullivan said.
Sullivan has been helping parents for over two decades find other options when Medicaid is unavailable.
"We have children who are funded under Medicaid. We have those who are funded under private insurance," Sullivan said. "We have children who are here for regular daycare that is parent-paid. We also have the voucher program run through DHS, so we can quote through our net out and assist more than some other centers might be able to."
Sullivan and Dush hope kids of all backgrounds and needs can get the best care possible despite their parents' financial situation.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to the Biden administration letter, calling it a "politically motivated PR stunt" and saying Arkansas complies with state and federal law.