Arkansas to move 60K off hybrid Medicaid plan
LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas lawmakers voted Tuesday to move 60,000 people off the state's hybrid Medicaid expansion plan and require some remaining participants to work, despite Democrats' complaints that the restrictions are too burdensome and at least one conservative Republican's complaint that they aren't tough enough.
The House approved the changes on a 71-23 vote and the Senate backed them on a 23-9 vote. Final votes are expected on the measures Wednesday before lawmakers wrap up a special session focused on the program, which uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents. More than 300,000 people are enrolled in the program, which was created four years ago as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchins earlier this year proposed the new restrictions, which must also be approved by the federal government. Supporters acknowledged the changes come despite uncertainty in Washington about Republican efforts to repeal former President Barack Obama's health care law.
"At some future point, there's no doubt in my mind that Congress will make changes and we'll have to deal with the situation at that time," Senate President Jonathan Dismang, a Republican, told lawmakers before the vote. "For the moment we have right now, it makes budgetary sense for us in the state of Arkansas to make these changes."
Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2017/may/03/arkansas-move-60k-hybrid-medicaid-plan/672365/
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