Majority Leader Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs wraps up the Regular Session of the 89th Arkansas General Assembly, the first Republican Majority in 138 years and the passage of several laws making it the most conservative in modern history.
Category Archives: SIMPLE Plan
The Daily Majority Webcast — April 16, 2013
Reps. Bill Gossage of Ozark and Andy Davis of Little Rock discuss today’s vote on the Private Option bill and the new tax cut and Medicaid reform bills in today’s Daily Majority Webcast.
The Daily Majority Webcast — April 10, 2013
Rep. Mark Lowery of Maumelle talks about the passage of his “Tim Tebow” bill for homeschoolers in Arkansas in today’s Daily Majority Webcast.
The Daily Majority Webcast — April 9, 2013
Rep. Charlotte Douglas of Alma talks about the Tim Tebow bill that passed through the Education Committee today and has information about a public forum on the private option set for Wednesday in your Daily Majority Webcast.
The Daily Majority Webcast — April 8, 2013
Rep. Andy Davis of Little Rock wraps up today’s nearly seven-hour day in the Arkansas House where the Private Option bill was discussed.
The Daily Majority Webcast — April 5, 2013
Majority Leader Bruce Westerman wraps up the week (despite the fact we’re coming in Saturday) and details the latest on the Private Insurance Option in your Daily Majority Webcast.
Rejection of Reform Puts Private Option at Risk
LITTLE ROCK – House Republican Leader Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) today issued the following statement after House Public Health Committee Democrats rejected HB1256, legislation creating the Arkansas Medical Assistance Fraud Prevention Program:
“This bill was a key reform initiative to save money in our state Medicaid program and help fulfill our promise to make it more sustainable. It’s partisan rejection seriously puts at risk House Republican support of the private option. Our promise to voters was to make Medicaid sustainable. Governor Beebe’s sending of his DHS Director to oppose a small pilot program illustrates his unwillingness to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.
“Without the means to verify that fraud is not occurring, it is hard for me to trust the administration’s ability to create a sustainable and cost-effective private option program.”
HB1256 would create a seven county pilot program where Medicaid recipients would be provided a “smart” identification card to replace their current medical assistance card. The program would authenticate both providers and recipients at the point of transaction to prevent phantom billing or benefit sharing.
For more information on the Arkansas Republican House Caucus, please visit http://www.ARHouse.org and follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ARHouseCaucus, and Facebook at http://facebook.com/ARHouseCaucus.
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