Arkansas

  • Exchanges: Legislation was introduced in 2011 to create a state-run insurance exchange, but all four proposed bills failed to attract sufficient support. Governor Mike Beebe publicly stated that he anticipates a state-federal partnership exchange. The Arkansas Insurance Department issued two requests in 2012 for proposals to HHS soliciting assistance in planning for the future state-federal exchange.  The Arkansas Legislative Council voted in April 2012 to give the Insurance Commissioner authority to begin using a $7.7 million federal grant to continue planning a proposed exchange.
  • Medicaid Expansion: Governor Beebe announced in September that the state would participate in the Medicaid expansion.
  • Medicare Advantage Enrollment: Arkansas currently has 100,657 seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage, or about 18% of all Medicare beneficiaries.

HIT_Arkansas_4_1_13

NEWS OF NOTE
» Governor Beebe’s Statement on Affordable Care Act Ruling (press release)
» KTHV – Arkansas Surgeon General on Health Care Reform
» Government Health IT – Arkansas Politicians Debate Health Insurance Exchange
» Arkansas Insurance Department – State-Run Health Insurance Exchange No Longer an Option (Press Release)
» Bloomberg Business Week – Even Reluctant States Design Health Insurance Exchanges

« Back to States list