Gov. Asa Hutchinson is to meet next week with members of the transition team for President-elect Donald Trump to discuss healthcare. It comes after the governor talked with Trump earlier this week by phone.
During the presidential campaign, Trump pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but has recently said he would like to keep parts of it. In an interview with KUAR News, Hutchinson said he hopes to have some influence on what direction the new administration takes.
"Just really helping to shape it, and as long as we have a good time in transition, as long as they give the state's more flexibility and control and a greater ability to put in work requirements, we'll be fine. We just need that flexibility here in Arkansas," Hutchinson said.
In the meantime, the governor says Arkansas is still waiting for official approval on continuation of the state's Medicaid expansion program which provides coverage to about 300,000 Arkansans.
"We've got to get our waivers approved through this administration which, they're on their way out the door, but we're still waiting on those waivers to be approved. Then there's going to be a time of transition. I did speak to President-elect Trump about this and I'm going to be meeting with the transition team next week on the healthcare issues."
