Health Care Reform Task Force Begins Discussion

The debate over health care reform in Arkansas is a complex, multi-faceted issue that will take time to debate and unfold, members of a legislative committee looking into the issue said Monday.

The Health Care Reform Legislative Task Force met Monday at the state Capitol to begin discussions over how to end the Private Option and begin a more widespread overhaul of heath insurance in the state.

Legislators earlier this year approved a bill to create a 16-member task force to look into the health care issue and come up with recommendations.

The task force has until Dec. 31, 2015 to complete its work and come up with a plan to forward to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who signed the bill this year. The Private Option is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2016.

Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, one of the co-chairs for the task force, said the work of the committee is “not to litigate the Private Option” but to come up with ideas.

Hendren also stressed to committee members that they should not speculate in the media on what the task force will do in addressing issues.

“I know it will be hard but don’t be afraid to say no on what will happen,” Hendren said.

UNCOMPENSATED CARE
The task force heard from Nell Smith, who is the administrator for the Research Section of the Bureau of Legislative Research.

Smith told the group health care providers wrote off more than $350 million in uncollected care in the state in 2013, with the highest uninsured percentages in counties in the northern and western areas of the state.

Smith said the number nationwide was even bigger, citing a 2013 study from the Urban Institute. That study showed a figure in the $75-$85 billion price range, Smith said.

Bo Ryall, president and CEO of the Arkansas Hospital Association, also spoke to the task force Monday. Ryall said the state has 104 hospitals, with the vast majority (72) considered acute care or general hospitals.

Nearly a third of the state (22 counties) do not have a local hospital, while another third (26) have only one hospital, Ryall told the task force. He listed uncompensated care as a major concern for hospital members.

PO NUMBERS RELEASED
The Arkansas Department of Human Services released figures last week, showing that nearly a quarter-million Arkansans had enrolled in the Health Care Independence Program as of March 31, 2015.

The program had enrolled 229,599 people, while eligibility approvals had been done for 242,103, officials said.

The largest number (32,774) was in Pulaski County, while Washington County had 12,389 and Benton County had 10,967, records showed.

In Northeast Arkansas, Craighead County had 8,417, while Mississippi County had 4,616 and Greene County had 3,844.

The information also showed that 58% of the people who signed up were women, with 42% men; 81% were below the poverty level and 65% were between the ages of 18 and 44.

While the task force looks at ways to wind down the Private Option, it will enlist the support of an outside consulting group to help explore options.

Jill Thayer, legal counsel with the Bureau of Legislature Research, told task force members they will soon make the selection of a group to help gather information for their work.

Thayer said companies have until 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 24 to turn in bids for the project. A list of bidders will be put together and narrowed down to three or four by May 4.

Thayer said the company will be selected May 7. She, along with Hendren and Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, cautioned task force members to have no contact with bidders between the Friday deadline and when the group is selected.