Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Arkansas Senate Fails To Pass Bill To Fund Medicaid Expansion
Times Record: Arkansas Medicaid Funding Bill Fails In Senate
The Arkansas Legislature’s fiscal session ground to a temporary halt Thursday, its second day, after the Senate rejected a bill to fund the state Medicaid program and the House rejected a bill that the Legislature is required to pass before it passes any other bills. House and Senate leaders said those bodies would not convene again until Tuesday following Thursday’s failed votes, which grew out of clashes over whether to fund Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Medicaid expansion plan, titled Arkansas Works. (Lyon, 4/14)
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Medicaid Vote Short In Senate
Senate Bill 121 failed to clear the Senate on Thursday, falling two votes short of the 27 required for approval in the 35-member chamber. The bill would grant the Department of Human Services' Medical Services Division $8.4 billion in spending authority, including $1.7 billion for Medicaid expansion, during fiscal 2017, which starts July 1. ... In the 2013 and 2014 sessions, legislation reauthorizing the use of Medicaid funds for the expansion program failed several times in the House before it ultimately won the required 75 votes for approval. (Wickline, Fanney and Willems, 4/14)
The Associated Press: GOP Senators Block Arkansas Medicaid Funding
A spokesman says Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is prepared to use his line-item veto authority if lawmakers send him a budget bill that defunds the state's hybrid Medicaid expansion. Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis said Thursday the governor has told Democrats and Republicans he would use the authority if lawmakers approve a Medicaid budget bill without the program's funding. (4/14)
