Medicaid plan OK'd; funding doubt remains

Sen. Bobby Pierce, D-Sheridan, (left) congratulates Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, Thursday just before the Senate passed by a vote of 25-10 Hendren’s Arkansas Works bill (SB1) extending and changing the state’s expanded Medicaid program.
Sen. Bobby Pierce, D-Sheridan, (left) congratulates Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, Thursday just before the Senate passed by a vote of 25-10 Hendren’s Arkansas Works bill (SB1) extending and changing the state’s expanded Medicaid program.

Legislation to continue providing health coverage for more than 267,000 low-income Arkansans under the state's expanded Medicaid program cleared the state House and Senate on Thursday, but by smaller margins than will be needed next week to approve funding for the program beyond June 30.

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Rep. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, (left) shakes hands with Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, after the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce passed the Senate version of the Arkansas Works legislation Thursday at the state Capitol in Little Rock.

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Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, speaks against the Arkansas Works measure, HB1001, on the House floor Thursday at the state Capitol in Little Rock.

Opponents of the program vowed to try to block funding during the fiscal session, which starts Wednesday, and said they have the votes to do it.

House Bill 1001, which would continue Medicaid expansion while adding additional requirements and benefits for enrollees under a program that would be called Arkansas Works, passed in the House by a 70-30 vote during the second day of a special session of the Legislature.

The bill's identical counterpart, Senate Bill 1, passed 25-10 in the Senate.

After Thursday's votes, HB1001 was sent to the Senate and SB1 to the House. The insurance and commerce committees of each chamber then recommended passage of the bills.

Each chamber is expected to take a final vote today and send the bills to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his signature.

Hutchinson said in a statement that Thursday's action on the Arkansas Works legislation set a "solid foundation" for approval in the fiscal session that starts on Wednesday.

During next week's session, legislators will vote on the appropriation bill for the state Department of Human Services' Division of Medical Services, including Medicaid expansion.

Approval of that bill requires a three-fourths majority in each chamber: 75 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate.

"I was pleased by the strength of the vote margin for the passage of Arkansas Works," Hutchinson said. "The results exceeded our expectations and are a clear indication that a very strong, bipartisan majority supports this policy for Arkansas."

Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said opponents of the expanded Medicaid program will vote against any bill appropriating funds for it.

The opponents will propose an alternative Medical Services Division appropriation, either through an amendment or special language, that excludes the funding, he said.

"We're playing some pretty hard chicken right now with both people's feet on the accelerator," Hester said. "I think the only thing that's going to bring resolution to this is a crash."

First approved by the Legislature in 2013, the expansion of the state's Medicaid program extended coverage to adults with incomes of up to 138 percent of the poverty level: $16,394 for an individual, for instance, or $33,534 for a family of four.

Most of those covered under the expanded part of the program receive the coverage through what is known as the private option, which uses Medicaid funds to buy coverage through private insurance plans.

SB1 and HB1001 would continue the coverage while making changes that Hutchinson has said would encourage enrollees to stay employed and take responsibility for their health care.

Those changes include charging premiums of about $19 a month to participants whose incomes are above the poverty level, subsidizing some enrollees' coverage through employer plans and referring some beneficiaries to job-training programs.

The legislation also authorizes the state to offer an extra benefit, such as dental coverage, as an incentive for enrollees to pay premiums and receive annual wellness exams.

All 46 Democrats in the 135-member Legislature voted for the legislation, which also received the support of 15 of the 25 Republicans in the Senate and 34 of the 63 Republicans in the House.

Except for Rep. Nate Bell, an independent from Mena, the legislators who voted against it were all Republicans.

Eight of the 10 senators who voted against the legislation said this week that they also plan to vote against the appropriation bill during the fiscal session.

The two others, Missy Irvin of Mountain View and Cecile Bledsoe of Rogers, declined to say Thursday how they will vote on the appropriation.

"I'd rather just wait," Bledsoe said.

Both senators voted last year in favor of the Division of Medical Services appropriation for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Bledsoe voted against funding the division in 2013 and 2014. Irvin voted for the funding in 2013 and against it in 2014.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said he's optimistic about the prospects for the Division of Medical Services appropriation.

"It's never been easy," Dismang said. "I don't expect it to be easy, but what we're going to continue to do is put information in front of the members and let them make educated decisions on what's best, not only for the district but for the state as a whole."

He added that he expects a discussion on "the appropriateness of using the appropriations process to try to set policy that is not conforming to the majority of this body."

The federal government is paying the full cost of coverage for the expanded Medicaid program until Jan. 1, when Arkansas will become responsible for 5 percent of the cost.

The state's share will then increase every year until it reaches 10 percent in 2020.

Opponents of the program say it will add to the federal deficit, increase dependency on government benefits and ultimately drain the state budget, especially if Congress decides to decrease the federal government's share of the cost.

Supporters point to estimates by The Stephen Group, a Manchester, N.H.-based consulting firm, showing that the benefit to the state budget will outweigh the cost through at least June 30, 2021.

Over five years the state budget will gain a net $757 million through increased tax collections and lower spending in the traditional Medicaid program and on medical care for the uninsured, the firm estimated.

The estimates were prepared for a legislative task force formed last year that has evaluated Medicaid expansion and explored changes to the traditional Medicaid program.

Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, said elected officials, hospital representatives and business owners in his district have urged him to support Medicaid expansion, citing the impact to the state budget of ending the program.

Comparing the program to "cough medicine that we just don't want to take," he said those who oppose the federal policy should run for federal office or support a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"I don't want to do something that damages my local community and actually do nothing to change what happens in Washington, D.C.," he said.

SB1's sponsor, Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, noted that The Stephen Group's estimates show Medicaid expansion will bring an estimated $9 billion in federal funding into the state from 2017-2021.

That will help to offset $9.9 billion that the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will draw out of the state during that period through taxes on health care providers and insurers and cuts in Medicare reimbursement to hospitals.

Federal tax subsidies provided for health insurance to people with incomes too high to qualify for expanded Medicaid, will add about $4.9 billion in federal funding during the same period, for a net gain to the state of $4 billion.

Without Medicaid expansion, the state would face a net loss in federal funding of about $5 billion, the consulting firm has said.

Sen. Alan Clark of Lonsdale, who voted against the legislation, said the program is part of a trend toward more government involvement in health insurance.

"We're driving the bus to single-payer" insurance, he said.

Instead of supporting Medicaid expansion, Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, said Arkansas should make better use of Arkansas Department of Health clinics.

Children should be taught to live healthy and active lifestyles, and Christian clinics should be subsidized, she said.

Opposition to the Affordable Care Act has contributed to conservative victories in the House and Senate, including her own election in 2014, she said.

"I believe many of those hardworking Arkansans were angry at a change in their health care system that they did not want and was forced upon them," she said.

A Section on 04/08/2016

House vote on HB 1001

Here’s how the House voted Thursday to approve HB1001, by Rep Charlie Collins, which makes changes in the state’s expanded Medicaid program to emphasize work and wellness.

YEA (70)

Charlie Armstrong, D-Little Rock

Eddie Armstrong, D-North Little Rock

John Baine, D-El Dorado

Scott Baltz, D-Pocahontas

Rick Beck, R-Center Ridge

Camille Bennett, D-Lonoke

Charles Blake, D-North Little Rock

Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith

Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan

David Branscum, R-Marshall

Mary Broadaway, D-Paragould

Karilyn Brown, R-Sherwood

Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville

Andy Davis, R-Little Rock

Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers

Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville

Lance Eads, R-Springdale

Les Eaves, R-Searcy

Jon Eubanks, R-Paris

Joe Farrer, R-Austin

Deborah Ferguson, D-West Memphis

Ken Ferguson, D-Pine Bluff

David Fielding, D-Magnolia

Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren

Lanny Fite, R-Benton

Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff

Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia

Bill Gossage, R-Ozark

Michael John Gray, D-Augusta

Kim Hammer, R-Benton

Ken Henderson, R-Russellville

Kim Hendren, R-Gravette

Mary “Prissy” Hickerson, R-Texarkana

David Hillman, D-Almyra

Monte Hodges, D-Blytheville

Mike Holcomb, R-Pine Bluff

Doug House, R-North Little Rock

Joe Jett, D-Success

Bob Johnson, D-Jacksonville

Sheila Lampkin, D-Monticello

Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville

Kelly Linck, R-Flippin

Fred Love, D-Little Rock

Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle

Stephen Magie, D-Conway

Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley

Mark McElroy, D-Tillar

George McGill, D-Fort Smith

Ron McNair, R-Alpena

Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna

Micah Neal, R-Springdale

Milton Nicks, Jr., D-Marion

Betty Overbey, D-Lamar

Mathew Pitsch, R-Fort Smith

James Ratliff, D-Imboden

Chris Richey, D-West Helena

Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock

Sue Scott, R-Rogers

Matt Shepherd, R-El Dorado

James Sorvillo, R-Little Rock

James Sturch, R-Batesville

Brent Talley, D-Hope

Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock

DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio

John Vines, D-Hot Springs

John Walker, D-Little Rock

Dave Wallace, R-Leachville

Jeff Wardlaw, D-Hermitage

David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville

Marshall Wright, D-Forrest City

NAY (30)

Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville

Nate Bell, R-Mena

Mary Bentley, R-Perryville

Donnie Copeland, R-North Little Rock

Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs

Gary Deffenbaugh, R-Van Buren

Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville

Charlotte Douglas, R-Alma

Trevor Drown, R-Dover

Mickey Gates, R-Hot Springs

Justin Gonzales, R-Okolona

Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne

Justin Harris, R-West Fork

Grant Hodges, R-Rogers

Lane Jean, R-Magnolia

Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro

Tim Lemons, R-Cabot

Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale

David Meeks, R-Conway

Stephen Meeks, R-Greenbrier

Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs

John Payton, R-Wilburn

Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers

Marcus Richmond, R-Harvey

Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs

Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro

Nelda Speaks, R-Mountain Home

Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro

Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro

Richard Womack, R-Arkadelphia

Senate vote on SB 1

Here’s how the Senate voted Thursday to approve SB1, by Sen. Jim Hendren, which makes changes in the state’s expanded Medicaid program to emphasize work and wellness.

YEA (25)

David Burnett, D-Osceola

Ronald Caldwell, R-Wynne

Eddie Cheatham, D-Crossett

Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock

John Cooper, R-Jonesboro

Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy

Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock

Jane English, R-North Little Rock

Jake Files, R-Fort Smith

Stephanie Flowers, D-Little Rock

Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs

Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana

Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Little Rock

Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis

David Johnson, D-Little Rock

Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville

Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia

Bobby Pierce, D-Sheridan

Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow

Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs

David Sanders, R-Little Rock

Greg Standridge, R-Russellville

Larry Teague, D-Nashville

Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot

Jon Woods, R-Springdale

NAY (10)

Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers

Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale

Linda Collins-Smith, R-Batesville

Scott Flippo, R-Mountain Home

Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs

Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View

Blake Johnson, R-Corning

Bryan King, R-Green Forest

Terry Rice, R-Waldron

Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch

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