The Arkansas House of Representatives failed yesterday to reauthorize a state program providing health insurance premium assistance to low-income residents, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The Arkansas House voted 70-27 on legislation that would continue the program, short of the 75 needed to pass the bill, according to the report. The Arkansas Private Option launched last fall as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The program uses federal funds to provide health insurance premium assistance to more than 200,000 state residents with incomes below or at the federal poverty line. The state funds vouchers that people can use to buy health plans from private insurers through the health insurance exchange. About 100,000 people have signed up for the program so far.
Republican House Speaker Davy Carter has said he plans to schedule another vote and thinks the legislation will ultimately pass, according to the report. However, it faces some opposition from conservative representatives such as Rep. Bruce Westerman, who has said passing the appropriation bill for the Private Option would make the state "an enabler for Obamacare."
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, has said there will be a $90 million hole in the state's budget if lawmakers don't reauthorizing financing for the program.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill today. State lawmakers have until March 19 to pass the legislation.
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