The Washington Post still has Arkansas as a strong “yes” on their Medicaid Expansion scorecard, though this time they acknowledge that they’re basing their tally on governor preference. Obviously getting it by the Republican-controlled legislature is easier said than done. Here’s an interesting tidbit about the red states considering opting out:
The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates enrollment would be 4.3 million among the opt-in states, compared with 5.3 million among the opt-outs. Much of that difference is explained by the fact that the states who have opposed the provision tend to have less expansive Medicaid programs, meaning the Affordable Care Act expansion would have an even greater impact.
States that already have strong Medicaid programs won’t be affected much by Medicaid expansion. It’s states like Arkansas, with one of the stingiest Medicaid programs in the nation and a quarter of the state’s 19-64-year-olds uncovered, that stand to gain a lot from expansion. IF they say yes to what the Feds are offering…