DHS Expanding Phone Reporting, Outreach for Arkansas Works Enrollees

Beneficiaries needing to report activity by phone can do so 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. through DHS

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today that starting Dec. 19 Arkansas Works enrollees who need to report their work and community engagement activities will have more options to do so by phone with the launch of a new DHS Helpline.

That means Arkansas Works enrollees can report by phone by calling:

(1) The DHS Helpline at 1-855-372-1084 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week (as of Dec. 19)

(2) Their insurance carrier (BlueCross BlueShield, Ambetter, or QualChoice) weekdays during regular business hours (and some Saturdays, depending on time of year and carrier) at the numbers below:

  AmBetter: 1-877-617-0390
  Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield: 1-800-800-4298
  QualChoice: 1-866-838-9186

(3) A trusted friend or Registered Reporter, which is someone who has gone through an online training through DHS to better understand what and how to report.

Enrollees also can report online at www.access.arkansas.gov and in-person at a DHS county office.

Enrollees also can call 1-855-372-1084 to get questions answered. In addition, staff working the helpline will start proactively reaching out to individuals who have logged some – but not enough – work and community engagement activities to meet the 80 hours a month requirement. Staff will encourage those enrollees to continue to report their hours and refer them to helpful services.

“We are six months into this new Medicaid demonstration program, but wanted to take the time now to assess what areas we need to shore up or improve,” said DHS Director Cindy Gillespie. “Though enrollees have had the ability to report by phone through carriers, friends, and registered reporters, we felt it was important to expand that option before we roll the next group into the work and community engagement requirement.”

Though we have seen improvement in the percentage of current enrollees who are meeting the requirement, Gillespie said the State wants to see those percentages increase. So DHS also will be launching a paid advertising campaign aimed at ensuring enrollees know how to report their work and community engagement activities. The campaign will use both traditional and social media outlets, online sites, and local transportation organizations to reach enrollees. The agency also will be working with higher education institutions so that students know their school hours count as activities toward meeting the requirement.

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