You have a right to be treated fairly.
- When you apply for Medicaid or ARKids First, your race, sex or religion should never be a reason for turning you down.
- You have a right to get information that you can understand.
- Your doctor should treat you with respect.
- You have a right to help make decisions about your health care or your child’s health care.
- You have a right to refuse treatment.
- You should never be strapped down or restrained just to make things easier for medical workers.
- You have a right to see your medical records, and to ask that they be changed if they’re incorrect.
- No one should treat you badly just because you use these rights.
If you have a complaint about your health care, call the Complaint Hotline at 1-888-987-1200. Have your Medicaid or ARKids First ID card ready when you call.
If you feel you’re being treated unfairly
If you feel you’re being treated unfairly, you can ask for a hearing. A hearing is a review and discussion of your complaint. A hearing officer will:
- listen to you.
- explain the rules.
- answer your questions.
- see that you get fair treatment.
Should you ask for a hearing?
You should ask for a hearing if you believe:
- it was wrong to deny your application or request for service.
- it is taking too long to decide about your application.
- you did not receive enough help.
- you asked for a service and did not get it.
- someone forced you to accept a service you did not want.
- someone discriminated against you.
To ask for a hearing, send a letter asking for a hearing to:
The Department of Human Services
Office of Appeals and Hearings
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
Before the hearing
Before the hearing you should:
- Get your facts in order so you can explain clearly.
- Bring any letters, papers, or other items that help show what happened.
- List any witnesses who can tell what happened. DHS can help you get them to come to the hearing. Contact your county DHS office for help.
- Decide if you want someone to speak for you at the hearing. (You may speak for yourself if you like.) Contact your county DHS office for help.
- Decide if you want a lawyer.
If your benefits will be taken away
If you are notified that your Medicaid or ARKids First benefits will be taken away:
- You can appeal the decision. This means you ask DHS to reconsider letting you keep your benefits.
- To appeal, you must send a letter to DHS.
- Look at the date that is on the letter you got from Medicaid or ARKids First telling you that your benefits would end. Make sure DHS gets your appeal letter within 10 calendar days of this date. This way, your benefits can continue until your appeal is over. In your letter, you must request that your benefits be continued.
- Send your appeal letter right away. If DHS does not get your appeal letter within 30 days of the date on the letter you got from Medicaid or ARKids First, your appeal will be denied.
Send your appeal letter to:
The Department of Human Services
Office of Appeals and Hearings
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
If Medicaid or ARKids First refuses to pay
If Medicaid or ARKids First refuses to pay for a service you need:
- You will get a letter telling you so. If you disagree and want to appeal, you must send a letter to DHS asking for an appeal.
- Look at the date that is on the letter you got from Medicaid or ARKids First. Make sure DHS gets your appeal letter within 30 calendar days of that date.
Send your appeal letter to:
The Department of Human Services
Office of Appeals and Hearings
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
- Send your appeal letter right away. If DHS does not get your appeal letter on time, your appeal will be denied.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services provides Medicaid and ARKids First benefits to everyone who is eligible, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, without regard to
- Age
- Religion
- Political affiliation
- Veteran status
- Sex
- Race
- Color
- National origin