Governor Asa Hutchinson spoke recently to a joint meeting of the Health Reform Legislative Task Force and the Governor’s Medicaid Advisory Council. He told the group that he favored keeping Medicaid expansion — but only if the federal government allowed changes that seemed intended to appeal to conservative legislators who continue to oppose the program.

While Hutchinson created the panel “to recommend whether to change or replace the state’s ‘private option’ version of Medicaid expansion,” the fate of the program “will ultimately be decided by the Republican-controlled legislature, which is likely to meet in a special session this year to vote on it.”

The following summary was provided by David Wroten, AMS EVP and member of the Advisory Council.

Governor’s Proposal for Any Future Plan

1. Mandatory employer-sponsored insurance premium assistance
2. Modest premiums for individuals making over 100% of federal poverty level
3. Work training referrals for unemployed and underemployed
4. Eliminate non-emergency transportation
5. Cost savings in current Medicaid
6. Limit access to private market coverage to working individuals
7. Strengthen program integrity