Private alternative to Medicaid expansion faces crucial vote in Arkansas

PBS ^ | Feb 17th, 2014 | Hari Sreenivasan

[ConservativeMan55]

In Arkansas, an alternative to the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion uses federal dollars to purchase private health plans for low-income residents who fall in a coverage gap. But now, as other states consider following suit, the Arkansas law, known as the “private option,” could end unless it is renewed by state lawmakers. Hari Sreenivasan reports.

[ConservativeMan55]

So if they’re using Federal Dollars to purchase private plans how is this any different than Obamacare?

[ConservativeMan55]

ping

[Moonman62]

From the article:

Conservatives liked the idea that private option patients would access their health care through insurance plans like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, as opposed to the traditional government-run Medicaid program, which many Republicans feel is inefficient and offers first poor-quality care.

[steve86]

Medicaid already utilizes private “health management” companies. For example, in Washington State there are seven. In addition the Medicaid recipient can pick which company he wants to be enrolled with. What’s the difference?

[Moonman62]

I think there are more plans available than the Medicaid plans.

[ConservativeMan55]

Oklahoma used to do that until Obamacare outlawed their program.

[steve86]

WA does that right now. Expanded Medicaid is part of Obamacare, but funded differently.

[Lorianne]

Because part of Obamacare was to increase Medicaid rolls ... a lot.

[ConservativeMan55]

They want people dependent on THEM.

[GeronL]

Shouldn’t that word “private” be in scare quotes?

[Jane Long]

Maybe it’s cheaper than going through the 0’JarrettCare/DNC/Socialist/Marxist slush fund filter? Maybe not much, but perhaps a bit?

I imagine we could’ve bought ALL of the *gap* uncovered’s private policies for a lot cheaper than what 0DeathCare is costing.

[DJ MacWoW]

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