Sen. Ingram says Medicaid expansion staved off hospital crisis, new factors causing concern

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Sen. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, noted that a near decade of help from the state’s Medicaid expansion program has stabilized Arkansas’ health care system, but now a new set of circumstances is challenging hospitals’ financial health.

In an interview on Talk Business & Politics, the chair of the Senate’s Hospital and Medicaid subcommittee, said the private option, also known as Arkansas Works and ARHome, has been an effective “backstop” to guard against hospital closures, especially in rural parts of the state.

“The Medicaid expansion – Arkansas Works, ARHome – is going to be 10 years old in 2023. Without that backstop, we would’ve lost so many rural hospitals in Arkansas, like the states that surround us. They’ve had a tremendous amount of hospital enclosures. So what has happened is that staved off the financial crisis that other states have gone through until this point,” he said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/sen-ingram-says-medicaid-expansion-staved-off-hospital-crisis-new-factors-causing-concern/

Medicaid Expansion Bill Fails in House for Second Straight Day

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas lawmakers considered a variety of bills on Wednesday (April 14), but the main drama centered on the state’s Medicaid program. For the second day in a row, House members could not muster enough votes to approve a Department of Human Services budget that includes funding for a revamped Medicaid expansion program.

SB 55 outlines the spending for the state’s DHS Division of Medical Services budget, which includes Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. In 2013, Arkansas first adopted a Medicaid expansion program through the ACA, known as the private option. It struggled nearly every session to reach the three-fourths vote needed for passage as Republican opposition to the ACA hardened.

Under Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s oversight, the expansion program was reworked to include a work requirement and the program was renamed Arkansas Works. A lawsuit struck down the work requirement, but it has often barely cleared the 75% threshold needed for budget bills.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/medicaid-expansion-bill-fails-in-house-for-second-straight-day/

Arkansas Legislature Passes Medicaid Expansion Program

By SARAH KELLOGG

The Arkansas Legislature has passed a new version of its Medicaid expansion program.

The House voted 64-34 Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 410, meaning it now goes to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, where if signed, the bill will become law.

The state’s current plan, Arkansas Works, is set to sunset, or end, this year. The new plan, entitled the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me or ARHOME, would retain the current private insurance model for purchasing health plans for participants. Unlike Arkansas Works, there is no work requirement.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-legislature-passes-medicaid-expansion-program

Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne, presents Senate Bill 410 to the House.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Arkansas Senate Votes To Approve Medicaid Expansion, Bill Now Goes To House

By SARAH KELLOGG

The Arkansas Senate has passed a bill that would implement a new Medicaid expansion program in place of the current Arkansas Works program.

By a vote of 26-3 with four members voting present, the Arkansas Senate passed Senate Bill 410 on Tuesday. The legislation would create the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me or ARHOME Act. 

According to Talk Business and Politics, the proposed program, which was introduced in early March, keeps the current private insurance model for purchasing plans like the private option for the Arkansas Works program did.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-senate-votes-approve-medicaid-expansion-bill-now-goes-house

Sen. Missy Irvin, R- Mountain View, presents her bill to the Senate.

CREDIT ARKANSAS SENATE

ARHOME Seeks To Replace Arkansas Works As New Medicaid Expansion

Under construction for the past year, Arkansas lawmakers and Gov. Hutchinson’s administration will unveil their newest version of Medicaid expansion on Monday.

ARHOME (pronounced “Are-Home”) stands for Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me. Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, and Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Bethesda, will be two of the lead sponsors of the proposal.

In a Talk Business & Politics interview, Irvin, Gray and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie discussed ARHOME’s details and political obstacles for the healthcare program expected to cover more than 300,000 low-income residents who make below 138% of the federal poverty level.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arhome-seeks-replace-arkansas-works-new-medicaid-expansion

Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock speaking with Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Bethesda), Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View) and Arkansas Secretary of Human Services Cindy Gillespie.

CREDIT TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS