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Gov. Beebe Signs Into Law 'Private Option' Plan

Arkansas Capitol
Michael Hibblen
/
KUAR News

Gov. Mike Beebe has signed into law a measure reauthorizing Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion for another year.

Beebe on Friday signed the budget bill for the "private option" plan that was approved last year as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health law.

Through the private option, Arkansas is using federal Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents.

Nearly 94,000 people are receiving subsidized insurance through the program, the first of its kind approved by the federal government.

The program's future had been in jeopardy, but survived a defunding push in the House earlier this week.

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