As of today, the Medicaid compromise known as the “Private Option” has been signed into law and extended for this year, according to a Tweet from the office of Governor Beebe.
It passed the Arkansas House of Representatives with a vote of 76 to 24 on March 4, and it passed the Arkansas Senate with a vote of 27 to 8 on Feb. 20.
The bill reauthorizes funding for the “Private Option” program that uses federal Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents. Arkansas was the first state to win federal approval for such a model, an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law, according to our affiliate station KTHV – Channel 11.
It will keep alive a program that’s extended health coverage to nearly 94,000 people.
PIC: Governor Beebe signing Act 257. #PrivateOption #arleg pic.twitter.com/TZKqZAaBPr
— Governor Mike Beebe (@GovBeebeMedia) March 7, 2014
