Arkansas Medicaid Private Option Enrollees Older Than Expected, But PMPM Costs Within Waiver Limits

On April 23, 2014, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that the population enrolled in the Medicaid expansion plans under the Health Care Independence Program/Private Option has an average age about two years older than initially projected, but that the state’s spending on per member per month premiums are within the waiver limits. The state had anticipated the average age at 37; the enrollees have an average age of 39. Because the enrollees are older, the PMPM premiums were $24 higher on average during the first four months of the program.

The state noted that the . . .