‘Yes’ And ‘No’ On Arkansas Medical Vote

DELEGATION SPLITS, BUT REPUBLICAN HAS DOUBTS

As predicted by many, the ‘Arkansas Option’ in Medicaid funding did finally pass both the state House and state Senate.

The split between the “yes” and “no” votes was indeed along party lines. There is a contrast, in both state Senators who represent area in Western Washington County by Uvalde Lindsey (D-Fayetteville) and Jim Hendren ( D- Grave t te) issued statements for this column.

That contrast also comes from State Rep. Charlene Fite ( R-Van Buren) and State Rep. David Whitaker (D-Fayetteville).

State Rep. Sue Scott (R-Rogers) who voted ‘no’ initially, but changed her vote. “…things did change,” Scott said. “The health plan proposal went from mediocre to darn good for citizens of this state. I do not favor government expansion, but felt compelled to support this program for the good of everyone,” Scott said.

Fite, who represents the Prairie Grove and Lincoln areas, said it was a hard decision.

“This certainly was not an easy decision for me. I spent much time in study and on my knees in prayer. During my campaign, I promised to oppose government expansion and to control spending. Therefore, when it was time to vote, I voted “no.”

Fite continues: “Although a small group of representatives and senators have been working for months on this “private option,” we were only shown this bill a little over a week ago. I attended every discussion session and read everything in print, yet believed that much ambiguity remained,” she said.

“We are signing a contract for the largest government expansion in the history of our state, with the partner on the other end of the contract being the federal government. We have yet to see bids from any of the insurance companies with whom we are hoping to subcontract. I wouldn’t buy a car without seeing the entire “deal.” This is not “free money.” This enormous increase in government spending is also increasing the debt on generations following us.”

Whitaker, who represents Farmington and part of Fayetteville, said: “The Private Option was never my first choice. I strongly supported the expansion of direct Medicaid payments to providers. I believe it would have been the more efficient and cost-effective approach.

It was a case where we could not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. It would have been the ultimate act of irresponsibility to simply do nothing.”

Whitaker continued: “As a result of us hanging tough and eventually winning the votes necessary for passage, more than 200,000 of Arkansas’ working poor will now be able to see a family doctor, our small businesses will be spared as much as $ 35 million in punitive taxes under the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act, and our hospitals will finally be compensated for millions of dollars of care they now provide through uncompensated emergency room visits.”

State Sen. Jim Hendren, who represents Western Washington County, has never changed his opposition to Medicaid from the start of the session.

“I voted “no” because our Federal government is broke. Continuing to add more people to a government run health care system when we are $18 trillion dollars in debt will simply hasten the day that the entire system collapses. That is the worst possible thing that could happen to those in need. I would rather work to improve the economy and create jobs so that more people can afford quality healthcare.”

State Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, who represents Farmington and parts of Fayetteville: “I voted for the Private Option to enhance the Medicaid program because I think it makes good sense — it’s just good, common sense to want all of our folks in Arkansas to have good health care, and a better quality of life.”

“Our rural hospitals and medical service providers will be able to collect for their services by billing the insurance companies, and avoid writing off those accounts that can’t be collected — those hundreds of millions of dollars could save our rural hospitals (and the jobs they provide) and improve our medical delivery system.

It’s also impor-tant to remembe r — the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is coming, whether we like it or not.”

“This program, crafted in large part by a young, forward looking cadre of Republicans and supported by Gov. Beebe, is the best option we have to turn the program into something that will really help our people and our state.” MAYLON RICE IS A FORMER JOURNALIST, HAVING WRITTEN BOTH NEWS AND COLUMNS FOR SEVERAL NWA PUBLICATIONS