Unlocking Rural Health: How Medicaid Reimbursement for Community Health Workers Can Transform Access and Care

An Arkansas law, effective next month, aims to bridge gaps in rural healthcare. Known as the Community Health Workers Act, this law will establish a certification system for community health workers (CHWs) and ensure that state Medicaid and some private insurers reimburse them for their services.

Supporters believe this initiative will make healthcare more accessible in underserved areas. Senator Missy Irvin, a key sponsor of the law, emphasizes the urgent need for local support. She states, “We know from the data what good care looks like, and it often involves having people on the ground visiting those in need.”

Community health workers play a crucial role. They assist with important yet often overlooked tasks like arranging transportation, securing healthcare coverage, overcoming language barriers, and helping with applications for programs like WIC. Their work is especially vital in improving maternal health by providing follow-up care to new mothers.

Dr. Pearl McElfish, director of the Institute for Community Health Innovation at UAMS, highlights a longstanding issue: CHWs have largely depended on grant funding, which is inconsistent. She hopes this new law will lead to better job sustainability and pay. Currently, CHWs in Arkansas earn about $17.19 per hour, but McElfish anticipates that the law will help raise this to a living wage.

The law includes a certification program, allowing CHWs to collaborate more effectively with healthcare providers. At present, Arkansas has 81 certified CHWs, with 15 more in the pipeline. Training options are available, including fast-track apprenticeship programs offered by the Rural Health Partnership and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Community health workers are the bridge between healthcare and the communities they serve. As the landscape of rural healthcare continues to evolve, programs like this one can make a meaningful difference in the lives of many families.



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Medicaid,Community health workers,Rural health,Arkansas,Health disparities,Certification,Reimbursement,Maternal health