Gov. Hutchinson to host ‘Arkansas Works’ town hall meeting on March 22

Gov. Asa Hutchinson will host a town hall meeting about Arkansas Works, his plan to continue the private option, at the Central Baptist College Auditorium in Conway from 7-8 p.m. March 22.

The event will occur a couple of weeks before a special session beginning April 6 when the Legislature will consider Arkansas Works.

If enacted, Arkansas Works would modify the Medicaid expansion started under the private option, the program that uses federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for adult Arkansans with incomes above 138% of the federal poverty line. The private option was created in 2013 and now covers more than 200,000 Arkansans.

The governor says Arkansas Works would differ from the private option in four ways. First, it would require adults with access to insurance through their employer to take advantage of that benefit rather than stay on the program. The state would provide assistance in paying the premiums.

Second, the state would mandate that able-bodied individuals with no income be referred to job training and job search programs.

Third, Arkansas Works would require enrollees with incomes above 100% of the federal poverty line to pay premiums of $19 per month, with those who fail to pay incurring a debt to the state.

Finally, Arkansas Works is meant to enhance program integrity by eliminating a provision where medical costs can be covered 90 days prior to enrollment. Instead, costs would be covered only upon enrollment. Also, the state would have the ability to end the program with 30 days’ notice to the federal government.

Arkansas Works needs only majority support in the special session. However, it will need the support of 75% of legislators when funding is considered in the even-numbered year fiscal session that will start April 13.