State plans home health coverage for waitlisted Arkansans with disabilities

State plans home health coverage for waitlisted Arkansans with disabilities

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday announced that Arkansas plans to offer supportive living services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are on a waitlist.

Why it matters: Supportive living services help people with disabilities live at home by paying for in-home care, according to a news release from Sanders' office.

  • It's the most commonly requested service from families who are on the waitlist for the Arkansas Department of Human Services' community and employment support (CES) waiver.

    • By the numbers: The state estimates the cost will be about $17 million.

  • About 8,230 people are enrolled in the waiver program while about 2,460 are on the waitlist.

    • Context: The move comes after families' push for the change got traction on social media, the Arkansas Advocate reported. An online petition in support of a special legislative session to end the waitlist had more than 2,900 signatures as of this week.

    What's next: Sanders and her administration will discuss with the Legislature how to best fund the services, and more details will come soon.