Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 01 - Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services
Rule 005.01.06-004 - ADE 245 - Rules Governing the Program to Inform Students about the ARKids First Program

1.01 These rules shall be known as Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Program to Inform Students in Local School Districts about the ARKids First Program.

1.02 These rules are enacted pursuant to the State Board of Education's authority under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-11-105 and Ark. Code Ann. § 6-10-118.

2.01 It is the purpose of these rules to establish a program to inform students and their parents or guardians about health care coverage under the ARKids First Program Act, A.C.A. § 20-77-1101 et seq.

3.01 ARKids First is health care insurance for children.

3.02 ARKids First has two programs: ARKids First-A and ARKids First-B. ARKids First-A is Medicaid for children. ARKids First-B is for people who exceed the income maximum to qualify for regular Medicaid but still do not have health insurance for their children.

3.03 Arkansas Medicaid Administrative Claiming (ARMAC) is a federally-funded program that allows public education agencies to receive reimbursements for Medicaid-related administrative activities such as Medicaid Outreach, verification of Medicaid eligibility, referral and coordination of medical services, and program planning.

3.04 Benefits are the types of services covered by ARKids First Program.

3.05 Eligibility requirements for the ARKids First program are based on the income level of the family.

3.06 Medicaid is a program that helps pay for medically-necessary medical services for needy and low-income persons.

3.07 Medicaid Outreach includes activities associated with informing eligible or potentially-eligible families and students about Medicaid and how to access the program.

4.01 Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year and each year thereafter, the Arkansas Department of Education will cooperate with and assist local school districts in the state to inform students and their families about the ARKids First program.

4.02 The Arkansas Department of Education will coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services to disseminate current ARKids First program information to local school districts.

5.01 By October 15, beginning with the 2006-2007 school year and each year thereafter, the Arkansas Department of Education will provide local school districts pertinent ARKids First program information which will include: ARKids First applications, ARKids First eligibility criteria, and ARKids First benefit information.

5.02 The Arkansas Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, will make available to local school districts the contact information for each county Department of Health and Human Services office.

5.03 The Arkansas Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, will promote the Medicaid-outreach activities related to the ARKids First program to local school districts through the Arkansas Medicaid Administrative Claiming (ARMAC) program.

5.04 The Arkansas Department of Education will annually update local school districts on any information related to the ARKids First program as implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services.

5.05 Local school districts will provide ARKids First applications, ARKids First eligibility criteria, and ARKids First benefit information to students and their families identified as being in need of health insurance coverage.

5.06 Local school districts will coordinate efforts with the local county Department of Health and Human Services office for processing ARKids First applications.

5.07 Local school districts will make available to students and families the contact information for the local Department of Health and Human Services office.