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Enrollees In Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Growing

The Arkansas Department of Human Services says more than a quarter of the 250,000 people eligible under the state's expanded Medicaid program have been enrolled for coverage.

The department says 62,698 people were enrolled in the expanded program as of Tuesday.

Arkansas is accepting the money allocated for Medicaid expansion under the federal health care law but is using it to buy private insurance for about 250,000 eligible low-income residents.

Individuals who earn up to 138 percent of the poverty rate - or $15,415 per year - can purchase subsidized private insurance through the state's insurance exchange.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that most of those who have enrolled have been food stamp recipients who received letters from the Department of Human Services in September informing them of their eligibility.

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