Knowledge is Power: Arkansas Fiscal Session: DHS

The Arkansas general assembly meets every other year for a "Fiscal Session" to pass appropriation bills. These appropriation bills grant the authority for specific agencies/departments to spend taxpayer money on specific line-items. The "Fiscal Session" is the culmination and full legislative process for the budgeting and spending of taxpayer money. The fiscal session is only for appropriation bills, unlike the regular legislative session which takes place every other year in odd numbered years. The Arkansas constitution, Article 5, Section 5 lays out the details of the Fiscal Session and what can take place during the session. This quiz will highlight the budget of the Department of Human Services (DHS), specifically the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Program Arkansas Works. The total appropriation for DHS being sought in the 2018 Fiscal Session is $9,987,092,513 for FY2019. This is an increase of $1,552,518,472, or 18.4%, over the FY2018 budget according to the BLR budget manual for DHS at Page 97 (http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0710_dhs.pdf)

Question Sources:

1-3: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jan/28/2-candidates-face-off-in-gop-primary-bi/

4: https://thefga.org/news/new-fga-report-obamacare-expansion-cost-twice-much-promised/

5: https://talkbusiness.net/2013/09/private-option-funding-and-the-dhs-budget/

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* 1. What is the expected cost to taxpayers for the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program known as Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

Over 250 thousand dollars

Over 850 million dollars

Over 2 billion dollars

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* 2. What is the expected state share for the total cost of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

$72.6 million

$94.5 million

$135 million

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* 3. What is the expected federal share for the total cost of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

$435 million

$821 million

$1.95 billion

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* 4. What percentage of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) will the state be ultimately responsible for (assuming no changes to Obamacare are made at the federal level).

7.5%

10%

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* 5. Can the Arkansas Legislature seperate out the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Program Arkansas Works and vote on it's appropriation seperately from the entire DHS program?

No, it is an all or nothing vote and if you don't vote for it you will be throwing grannies out of nursing homes and hurting children who need medical services.

Yes. It can be seperated and current Senate President Pro Tem said the following about this issue: "I have no intent in turning the DHS budget into an all or nothing political game. If the DHS appropriation cannot attain the needed votes with the private option included, then it will be pulled, amended, and voted seperately."

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* 6. Have you subscribed to Conduit for Action's email list to get new surveys and articles automatically sent to your inbox?

Yes.

No. Enter email HERE if you wish to subscribe.

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* 1. What is the expected cost to taxpayers for the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program known as Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

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* 2. What is the expected state share for the total cost of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

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* 3. What is the expected federal share for the total cost of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) for FY2019?

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* 4. What percentage of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program Arkansas Works (previously called the Private Option) will the state be ultimately responsible for (assuming no changes to Obamacare are made at the federal level).

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* 5. Can the Arkansas Legislature seperate out the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Program Arkansas Works and vote on it's appropriation seperately from the entire DHS program?

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* 6. Have you subscribed to Conduit for Action's email list to get new surveys and articles automatically sent to your inbox?

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* 7. In what town do you live?