Arkansas Medicaid officials say the state will submit its request to use federal money to purchase private insurance for thousands of low-income residents by August.
Department of Human Services Director John Selig told lawmakers Thursday that the state would draft its waiver next month for the "private option" that lawmakers approved as an alternative to Medicaid expansion.
Selig said the state planned to submit the waiver to the federal government in August and hoped to get approval by October. The meeting before the Senate and House public health committees was the first since lawmakers adjourned this year's session.
Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law legislation setting up the private option, but the plan still requires federal approval.