Arkansas Dpt. Human Services responds to public complaints over slow Medicaid response, failures in system

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A community group protesting the Arkansas Department of Human Services handling of Medicaid needs has raised the ire of the department secretary.

In a letter sent Tuesday, DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam questioned the motives of the group Arkansas Community (ACO), which has asked Putnam to attend a Tuesday meeting to “foster a strong Medicaid program” after it held a protest at DHS offices.

Putnam’s letter criticized ACO for its May 29 protest, where the group claimed the agency had become less responsive to Medicaid concerns.

Putnam said the agency had been responsive, even going as far as to make sure ASO had her phone number, coupled with DHS responding to every case ACO asked it to review.

“Our team has responded each and every time,” Putnam wrote.

Putnam concluded that ACO protests and claims of diminished response have made her hesitant to work with the group.

“Your motives seem rooted in seeking attention rather than co-developing meaningful ways we can improve Medicaid,” she wrote.

ACO director Neil Sealy said the organization is developing a response to Putnam’s letter.

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