The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distributed a news release today to tout the billions in savings by Medicare recipients  on prescription drugs and preventive health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare if that’s your epithet of choice.

Nationwide, savings since 2010 on prescription drugs, thanks to closing the so-called doughnut hole, have totaled $15 billion. Also, 39 million people received preventive benefits in 2014 at no cost..

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On the Arkansas level said DHHS:

Arkansans saved $111,845,010 since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010. In 2014 alone, 40,505 people with Medicare in Arkansas saved $31,515,375 — an average of $778 per Medicare beneficiary — thanks to the Affordable Care Act closing the Part D prescription drug donut hole. Use of preventive services under the health care law has also expanded among people with Medicare. In Arkansas, an estimated 415,430 people with Medicare (including those enrolled in Medicare Advantage) took advantage of at least one preventive service with no cost sharing in 2014. 

Somewhat old news, but with fresher numbers is the finding by Gallup that Arkansas and Kentucky lead the country in reduction of the rate of people uninsured since the implementation of Obamacare.

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This is all terrible, isn’t it? Because didn’t the Republicans increase their majority in the legislature — and elect a solid Republican congressional delegation — through candidates who ran against Obamacare without cease and promised to put an end to it?