Arkansas' model Medicaid experiment in jeopardy

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Arkansas' model Medicaid experiment in jeopardy

AP foreign, Thursday December 18 2014

By ANDREW DeMILLO

Associated Press= LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas became the first Southern state to expand its Medicaid program in a way that many Republicans found acceptable. The state bought private insurance for low-income people instead of adding them to the rolls of the Medicaid system, which GOP lawmakers considered bloated and inefficient.

Now Arkansas could be on the brink of another distinction: becoming the first to abandon its Medicaid expansion after giving coverage to thousands of people.

A wave of newly elected Republican lawmakers who ran on vows to fight so-called "Obamacare" — including the state's "private option" Medicaid expansion — has raised doubts about the future of a leading model for conservative states to gradually adapt to the federal health care law. Arkansas' incoming Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, is remaining mum on the plan's fate.

"I think there's one thing that's clear and that's the private option is not going to exist in its current form," said Senate President Jonathan Dismang, one of several Republicans who helped craft the program and is pushing for its continuation.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11695187

[kimbutgar]

1. Arkansas you get what you voted for

If you voted rethug and lose your Medicaid, sorry you get what you voted for
If you sat out the election in November and are going to lose your healthcare you get what the consequences of not voting.

All those people who vote rethug, when you get screwed over, lose your healthcare, pensions, public schools, clean air and water well I won't feel sorry for you, you screwed yourself and don't blame the liberals because they are scarce in your states. There's going to be a lot of pain in those red states and the voters and non voters have only themselves to blame.

And to those who didn't vote this past election kick yourself in your arses.

[sakabatou]

2. The politicians will have blood on their hands if they falter on this

[Joe Bacon]

3. They'll blame Obama when they lose their health care.

Yes, they are that stupid.

Just like the folks in Louisiana who blame Obama for Katrina.