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House Speaker Carter Open To Tweaking Arkansas 'Private Option'

Davy Carter
Nathan Vandiver
/
KUAR

Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter says he's open to tweaking the state's compromise Medicaid expansion, but says he's confident lawmakers will renew the program when they convene for this year's legislative session.

Carter said Monday that voting on whether to reauthorize the "private option" will be one of the first things the Legislature will have to do when it convenes for this year's session on Feb. 10 since so many other parts of the budget depend on the program.

The private option was approved last year as an alternative to the Medicaid expansion envisioned under the federal health care law.

The program is at risk of being defunded after losing two key votes in the state Senate. Reauthorizing the expansion will require three-fourths support in the House and Senate.

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