Arkansas Medicaid expansion alternative sells well

‘The Arkansas Department of Human Services says the state’s answer to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion program has been popular.

By March 31, 155,567 – 69 percent – of the 225,000 state residents eligible for the Private Option program had signed up, officials said Monday.

PPACA encourages states to use federal funding to make Medicaid available to all residents with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $16,105 for a household of one.

Arkansas officials received permission from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to use the money that could have gone into Medicaid expansion to help residents pay the premiums for the commercial plans sold through the state’s public exchange.

Because of a drafting flaw, PPACA provides no exchange plan premium subsidies for consumers with incomes under 138 percent of the federal poverty level.