LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An effort to keep Arkansas’ hybrid Medicaid expansion for another year fell short in the state House on Wednesday, but legislative leaders say they’re confident they’ve got enough votes to reauthorize the first-in-the-nation program covering more than 300,000 people.
The House voted 73-17 in favor of the budget for the state’s Medicaid program, including the hybrid expansion, fell two votes shy of the three-fourths support needed to send the measure to the governor’s desk. The co-chairman of the Joint Budget Committee said he’ll seek another vote on the measure Thursday. The Legislature is expected to wrap up its session early next week.
“I think there are some people who are concerned about the cost of Medicaid…It’s just a little caution by the membership,” Republican Rep. Lane Jean said after the vote.
The state is expected to pay in the coming year $109 million of the $1.8 billion total cost of the expansion program, which uses Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents.
The program has sharply divided Republicans, who control the Legislature, since it was crafted in 2013 as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health law. The bill earlier this week was approved in the Senate after two failed attempts.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson effectively saved the program last year after it fell short of the votes needed in the Legislature, voiding part of a budget bill that called for the program’s end.
Hutchinson earlier this month announced he would seek federal approval to move 60,000 people off the program and to impose work requirements. Lawmakers are expected to meet in a special session in May to take up legislation related to the proposed changes.
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