Governor Mike Beebe met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Washington DC this Friday to discuss how low-income Arkansans can purchase insurance without going on expanded Medicaid.
Arkansas is one of six states to be awarded a $42 million dollar grant for a new health care initiative. Beebe says the plan will address preventative care, as well as existing chronic conditions.
"A doctor can more easily take a call from a concerned patient to determine whether or not an office or hospital visit is needed before the patient travels to a medical facility" said Beebe. He adds that this and other aspects of the initiative will keep costs low for patients and taxpayers.
The governor says the grant is just one of many steps Arkansas is taking to improve health care while decreasing the costs.