Arkansas House approves private option funding

Arkansas' first-in-the-nation plan that uses Medicaid funds to buy private insurance for the poor survived an effort to defund it Tuesday, as lawmakers gave final approval to continue a program that has extended health coverage to nearly 94,000 people.

The Associated Press reports the House voted 76-24 to reauthorize funding for the private option program first approved last year as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

The measure now moves to the desk of Gov. Mike Beebe, who is expected to sign it into law.

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