Senior benefits in Baxter County, Arkansas

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas is the Area Agency on Aging for Baxter County. It is a private, non-profit group that has served seniors in nine northwest Arkansas counties since 1979, and it also serves veterans and people with disabilities. Its services include adult day centers and services, care coordination, the Family Caregiver Support Program, housing, in-home services and help, Meals on Wheels, medical supplies, a personal emergency response system (Life Alert), and senior activity centers. The Baxter County branch office is at 1101 Spring Street, Cooper Park, Mountain Home; call 870-425-9811. Senior centers in the county include Van Matre Senior Activity & Wellness Center in Mountain Home (870-424-3054) and the Big Flat Senior Activity Center (870-448-3674). Baxter House Adult Center in Mountain Home is an adult day center (870-425-7585). The main office in Harrison can be reached toll-free at 1-800-432-9721.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households with home energy bills: heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. In Baxter County, Ozark Opportunities, Inc. takes LIHEAP applications. Its office is at 701 E. Prospect Ave., Harrison; call 870-741-9406 (extension 2). Arkansas LIHEAP pays a regular benefit based on household income, household size and the type of energy used, and a crisis benefit that can prevent a shut-off, restore service, or provide fuel when it has run out. Applications are taken first-come, first-served, typically from January to April 30 and from July to September 30 each year. Apply through this agency, not the Arkansas Energy Office. LIHEAP never charges a fee to apply.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) county office for Baxter County is at 204 Bucher Drive, Mountain Home, AR 72654-0408. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 870-425-6011. DHS county offices are run by the Division of County Operations, which processes applications for public assistance. You can apply for health care (Medicaid) and SNAP food benefits at your local county office, or apply and manage benefits online at Access.Arkansas.gov.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Baxter Health in Mountain Home offers financial assistance in the form of discounted care for emergency and other medically necessary care in its hospital, hospital departments and provider-based clinics. Elective care is not covered. Eligibility is based on ability to pay, including family income, lack of insurance, catastrophic medical need, or physical or mental incapacity. Patients whose family income is lower than 300% of the National Poverty Guidelines may qualify for care at reduced cost. The application is free on request; turn it in to Patient Financial Services at Main Admissions or mail it to 624 Hospital Drive, Mountain Home, AR 72653. For help, call Patient Financial Services at 870-508-1080, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Charity care is set by the hospital's financial assistance policy; the hospital makes the final award decision. Separate bills from attending physicians, radiologists, anesthesiologists and pathologists are not part of the hospital bill.

North Arkansas Transportation Service (NATS) is a public transit service run by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. Its service area is Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties and parts of Carroll and Madison counties. Anyone may ride; there are no age limits. NATS gives rides for medical visits, shopping and personal trips, and takes Medicaid and Medicare clients to medical visits. Dial-A-Ride trips need a reservation 24 hours ahead. Dial-A-Ride fares are $7.00 for trips of 0 through 10 miles and $10.00 for 11 through 20 miles; rides inside Mountain Home city limits are free and rides inside Harrison city limits are $3.00. Offices in Harrison and Mountain Home are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 4:30. Call 870-741-8008 to schedule.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year