Arkansas Releases Roadmap to a Healthier Arkansas
The purpose of the Roadmap is to describe how the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), through federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, plans to build out an improved care continuum over the next five years that will best meet the needs of three core populations who face increased risks for poor health outcomes: individuals with mental health needs and/or substance use disorders (SUD); individuals who are aging and/or those with physical disabilities; and, individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). An additional layer of risk applies to those with co-occurring conditions and/or who are justice-involved.
Citizens in these specialty groups who are near or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or receive social security disability will likely rely on Arkansas Medicaid for care, which for some will last a lifetime. This means that the care continuum must be strong and flexible enough to accommodate diverse needs. Completing the care continuum requires a new approach that fills gaps across the whole system which serves these specialty populations, rather than fixing single issues as they arise and never creating pieces that truly fit together. Today, the most significant gaps in Arkansas’ care continuum are related to early identification and intervention, integrated crisis services, and stabilization/recovery services in the least restrictive setting, especially for those leaving institutions and carceral settings with behavioral health needs and/or disabilities.