Senate OKs $8.3 billion for medical services

The state Senate on Tuesday approved spending authority for the Department of Human Services’ Medical Services Division.

It took the chamber three tries over two days to approve the $8.3 billion appropriation. Passage came after a debate on reauthorizing spending authority for the state’s Medicaid expansion, which provides health insurance for low-income Arkansans .

On Monday, the 35-member Senate initially voted 19-1 on Senate Bill 196 and later voted 20-1 on the bill. On Tuesday, the vote was 27-1. Twenty-seven votes are required to approve an appropriation in the Senate. SB196 heads to the House for further consideration.

Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, was the only senator who voted against the appropriation. He said the state’s direction is unsustainable.

“The credit card for DHS and Medicaid expansion is going up and up, and we need to stop this because it is hurting all of the state government,” he said.

The federal government is paying 95 percent of the cost for the Medicaid expansion this year. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the federal share drops each year until it reaches 90 percent in 2020. The private option cost about $1.5 billion in 2016. If the cost stayed the same, the state would need to provide $150 million of the funding in 2020.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced earlier this month that he would call a special legislative session in May to consider changes to the program that were not allowed under then-President Barack Obama’s administration.