Another press release from the Democratic Party of Arkansas, criticizing Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s handling of various issues with the Medicaid program. 

“Recently the administration’s lack of planning, preparation, and judgment resulted in a backlog of Medicaid redeterminations and a health care crisis for thousands of Arkansas families,” said party chairman Vince Insalaco. 

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Full press release after the jump: 

Democratic Party of Arkansas Issues Statement on the Current Medicaid Crisis

(LITTLE ROCK) – Today Vince Insalaco, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, issued the following statement on the current Medicaid crisis.

“Medicaid provides health care for those who have the least among us. Low-income families are physically and financially healthy because of “Well Child Checkups.” Elderly Arkansans in nursing homes depend on the care they receive through Medicaid. More than 900,000 Arkansans, including nearly half a million children, receive health care through Medicaid programs. Over 250,000 Arkansans have health care through the private option, which will save Arkansas taxpayers in excess of $400 million.’

‘Recently the administration’s lack of planning, preparation, and judgment resulted in a backlog of Medicaid redeterminations and a health care crisis for thousands of Arkansas families. The Medicaid crisis forced the governor to lift the ill conceived hiring freeze at DHS and authorize 2,200 hours of overtime pay allowing 300 agency staff to process a huge income verification backlog.’

‘The Medicaid crisis could have been avoided if the administration had tried to live up to its moral and legal obligations to care of those among us with the very least our faith dictates. The governor should not have authorized the DHS hiring freeze. DHS officials should have planned ahead, given recipients a more reasonable response deadline, and communicated clear instructions to comply with eligibility determination requests.’

‘In the midst of this crisis the governor’s illegal actions to end Arkansas’s Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood threatens more than $5.2 billion in federal Medicaid funds and the health and financial well-being of nearly 1 million Arkansans.’

‘Arkansas Democrats believe everyone deserves access to affordable health care. We will continue to fight for all Arkansans who were unjustly purged from the Medicaid rolls are restored. If you agree with me, call Governor Asa Hutchinson at (501) 682-2345 and tell him to stop playing politics with Arkansans health care.”

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