State Legislative Review Committee Approves Medicaid Rule for Pacific Island COFA Citizens

KUAF | By Jacqueline Froelich

Published March 11, 2021 at 9:40 AM CST

Pacific Islanders, including thousands of Marshallese adults legally residing in Arkansas under a Compact of Free Association, are free to enroll in Medicaid. Congress restored the entitlement to COFA migrants last year after it was nullified in 1996 during welfare reform. Sen. Lance Eads, R-West Fork, authored a non-binding legislative resolution supporting the entitlement as the Marshallese Educational Initiative prepares to assist qualified islanders with enrollment.

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Jacqueline Froelich

Jacqueline Froelich is an investigative journalist and has been a news producer for KUAF National Public Radio since 1998. She covers politics, the environment, energy, business, education, history, race and culture. Her radio segments have been nationally syndicated. She is also a station-based national correspondent for NPR in Washington DC., and recipient of eight national and state broadcast awards.

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