When and how to repeal the private option
There are now three bills in the Arkansas legislature to end the Private Option (Obamacare Medicaid Expansion). Representative Donnie Copeland filed HB1181 on Tuesday January 27, 2015.
HB1181 (Rep Copeland)
The bill would end Private Option on July 1, 2015 but would allow the Department of Human services to seek a waiver to continue to offer coverage to current enrollees until December 31, 2015.
SB144 (Senator Collins-Smith)
The bill would end the Private Option on December 31, 2015. It would allow the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver to allow enrollment to be frozen before the end of the year.
SB69 (Senator Hendren)
SB69 was the first bill to be filed. It would end the Private Option on December 31, 2016. The bill also creates a task force which among other things would recommend an alternative healthcare coverage model to continue availability of healthcare services for vulnerable populations covered by Private Option.