Medicaid appeals in Arkansas: hearing deadline and keeping benefits
Arkansas Medicaid (including ARKids First and ARHOME): you have 30 days to ask for a fair hearing.
To keep your Medicaid until the hearing, the Office of Appeals and Hearings must receive your appeal and your request to continue benefits no later than 10 calendar days from the date on your letter.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Appeal deadlines are strict. If you are near a deadline or your care is urgent, call free help today.
Medicaid (Arkansas Medicaid (including ARKids First and ARHOME)) denials in Arkansas
- Medicaid agency
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Medical Services and county DHS offices
- Who holds the hearing
Arkansas DHS Office of Appeals and Hearings
- Hearing deadline
30 days
The date on the notice letter (the Office of Appeals and Hearings must RECEIVE your request within 30 calendar days)
- How to ask for a hearing
- Form: Fill out the back of the Notice of Action, or use the Request for Appeal Hearing form (DHS-1200) or a letter; attach a copy of the notice
- Online: Email the request to DHS.Appeals@dhs.arkansas.gov (attach a scan or photo of the notice)
- Mail: Department of Human Services, Office of Appeals and Hearings, P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
- In person: Your county DHS office can help you fill out the form
- Phone: Questions about your appeal or hearing: DHS Office of Appeals and Hearings, 501-682-8622
- Mail address
Department of Human Services, Office of Appeals and Hearings, P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
- What to include
Your name, address, phone, date of birth, county and case number if you have it, the date of the action, which action and which program you are appealing, and whether you want your Medicaid to continue until the hearing. Include a copy of the Notice of Action. If someone else fills it out for you, add their name and contact details.
- Keeping your benefits during the appeal
To keep your Medicaid until the hearing, the Office of Appeals and Hearings must receive your appeal and your request to continue benefits no later than 10 calendar days from the date on your letter. For some long-term services (such as ARChoices, nursing home, TEFRA and certain waivers) benefits stay on unless you say you do not want them. If you lose, you may have to pay back the cost of services you got. If you do not check a box on the DHS-1200, DHS assumes you do not want benefits to continue.
Law: DHS-1200 (09/19); DHS-1200 Request for Appeal Hearing
- When the hearing is held
You get a letter with the time, date, place and hearing officer. Hearings are by telephone unless you or DHS ask for an in-person hearing, which is held at the DHS office closest to you unless the judge orders videoconference.
Law: DHS-1200 Request for Appeal Hearing
- Ombudsman
Medicaid health plan (managed care) in Arkansas
- Appeal to the plan first
People with certain behavioral health or developmental disability needs get Medicaid through a PASSE (Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity). Appeal a PASSE denial to the PASSE first, then you can ask for a DHS fair hearing. The PASSE Ombudsman can help with questions about appeals (1-844-843-7351).
- Then a state hearing
120 days
The date of the PASSE's appeal decision notice
- If the plan is late
If the PASSE does not decide your appeal on time, you can ask for a state fair hearing without waiting.
Law: 42 CFR 438.402, 438.408
Write my appeal: free letters
Sources
The official sources for Arkansas are listed on the Arkansas page.