CMS Approves Arkansas’ ‘Private Option’ Medicaid Plan

On Friday, CMS informed Arkansas that it had approved the state's plan to use funds intended for the Medicaid expansion to help residents purchase private health insurance through the state's health insurance exchange. The funding will help subsidize private insurance coverage for roughly 250,000 state residents with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

• "Medicaid To Pay for Private Health Plans in Arkansas" (Kliff, Washington Post, 9/27).
• "Arkansas To Use Medicaid Funds To Expand Private Coverage" (Radnofsky, Wall Street Journal, 9/27).
• "Feds Approve Ark.'s Private-option Medicaid Plan" (DeMillo, AP/Miami Herald, 9/27).