Ark. Governor Says Failure To Fund Medicaid Expansion Will Kill Highway Initiative
Gov. Asa Hutchinson says if the legislature fails to approve his efforts to keep and revamp the expanded Medicaid program, the remaining budget gap will prevent him from moving forward on plans for new highways. Meanwhile, in Maine, the state Senate approved Medicaid expansion by one vote and South Dakota officials are still planning for an expansion.
(KUAR) Arkansas Public Radio:
Governor Hutchinson: Highway Plan Dead Without Medicaid Expansion
Failure to pass his Arkansas Works program could lead to the cancellation of a planned special session for highways, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday. Hutchinson spoke the day before the Legislature enters its even-numbered-year fiscal session, where the signature issue will be Arkansas Works, his plan to continue the private option. That’s the government program where the state uses federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Created in 2013, the private option expires at the end of this year. (Brawner, 4/12)
Arkansas Times Record:
Hutchinson: No Highways Session If Arkansas Medicaid Plan Not Funded
In a news conference at the state Capitol where he was joined by members of the Arkansas Highway Commission and several state legislators, Hutchinson said that if the Legislature does not approve funding for Arkansas Works, which would continue and modify the program now known as the private option, then his plan to boost highway funding will be impossible. ... Since its creation in 2013, the private option has used federal Medicaid money to subsidize private health insurance for more than 267,000 low-income Arkansans and has reduced uncompensated care costs at hospitals across the state. The plan received approval in a special session last week, but the votes it received fell short of three-fourths majorities that will be needed in both chambers to fund the program. (Lyon, 4/12)
The Associated Press:
Hutchinson: Highway Plan Dead Without Medicaid Expansion
In January, Hutchinson unveiled his highway plan, which he said would boost funding to match federal highway dollars — a move that would generate about $750 million over a 10-year period, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported. Hutchinson said that without approval of his Medicaid plan, his highway funding proposal to use $40 million from accumulated and unallocated surplus for one-time use would be impossible given a budget gap of more than $100 million. (4/12)
Arkansas Online:
Governor: Road Plan At Risk If Medicaid Plan Fails
But a leading opponent of the Medicaid expansion, Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said it would be hard to find many Arkansans who think the highways aren't adequately funded with several million dollars a day in state and federal funding. "It is not a credible threat," he said in a telephone interview after Hutchinson's news conference. "We are adequately funded for highways. "We could always use more, and there is always a desire for more highways. But I think [the funding level] is fine," he said. (Wickline, 4/13)
Maine Public Radio:
Maine Senate Narrowly Passes Medicaid Expansion
In a 18-17 vote, the Maine Senate has supported a measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Saviello of Wilton that would provide health insurance to nearly 80,000 Mainers. The measure would use Medicaid funds from the federal government to buy private health insurance for poor Mainers. ... It’s estimated the proposal would bring in more than $2 billion in federal funds over the next five years and create 3,000 jobs. Opponents argued that the cost of the program increases in future years and questioned whether the state should rely on a federal government that continues to build up its debt. (Leary, 4/12)
Portland Press Democrat:
Maine Senate Passes Medicaid Expansion By One-Vote Margin
A bill to expand Medicaid eligibility to more low-income Mainers won initial support in the Republican-controlled Senate by a single vote Tuesday. The measure is likely to pass in the Democratic-controlled House, but faces an all-but-guaranteed veto from Gov. Paul LePage, who has rebuffed past attempts to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. (Miller, 4/12)
Rapid City (S.D.) Journal:
No Decision Yet, But State Prepping For Medicaid Expansion
Although nothing is certain yet about South Dakota's proposed expansion of Medicaid coverage, a member of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's cabinet on Monday said preparations for adding 50,000 Medicaid recipients are moving "full speed ahead." Daugaard would call a special session of the Legislature on expanding Medicaid eligibility, and a decision on whether to do that probably will come by summer. But Social Services Secretary Lynne Valenti said five teams of tribal, state and federal government officials are working with health care providers on the operational plans. She provided an update to members of the state Board of Social Services. (Mercer, 4/12)