Sen. Sanders, Rep. Gray Discuss Private Option, Managed Care

Two Republican lawmakers on the Health Reform Task Force offered their reaction to Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s recommendations last week and discussed their evolving views on where health reform is headed.

Sen. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, and Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne, were guests on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics with Roby Brock, which airs Sundays at 9 a.m. on KATV Ch. 7.

Sanders is one of the principal architects of the Private Option. Gray, a first-term legislator, opposed the Private Option funding and the creation of the Health Reform Task Force in the 2015 regular session.

Sanders said he agreed with many of the governor’s ideas laid out last week, including cost-sharing for PO recipients, tying more work incentives into the program, and people paying an increased portion of premiums above certain income levels.

He said he disagreed with Hutchinson’s suggestion that Arkansas might abandon its efforts to create a state-based insurance exchange. “It creates more flexibility in the long-term,” Sanders said.

Gray said she concluded that Hutchinson’s message was “we’re going to keep the Private Option and figure out how to make it work.”

“Although I want to stand tough and say, ‘I don’t support and I can’t vote for this,’ I do understand what it will do for my constituents,” said Gray.

Managed care is another hot topic that was dealt with by the task force last week as a number of out-of-state entities seek to vie for state business.

Gray said she will be a tough sell to go with managed care options as she worries about the layer of administrative costs that come along with it.

“For the most part, I disagree with managed care,” she said. “I need to see the costs. I need to see the data. There’s no reason for us to re-invent the wheel on this. Other states have done it. Show me some hard numbers where you can show this has saved money.”

Sanders said the numbers will have to speak to any program’s merits, but all options have to be considered at this juncture.

“It’s going to be a data-driven enterprise. It’s going to be one where we look at numbers,” he said. “When we begin our deliberations and begin shaping the policy, I think everything has to be on the table.”

You can watch their full interview below. Also, Talk Business & Politics’ Steve Brawner and KATV’s Elicia Dover held a roundtable discussion on health care reform, Rep. Mike Holcomb’s party switch, and State Treasurer Dennis Milligan’s new ethics challenge. Watch that video below as well.