Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families would like to applaud Gov. Hutchinson for laying out a pragmatic way forward on the Private Option, guaranteeing Arkansans affordable coverage, giving hospitals and health care providers more certainty, and protecting the state budget in the process.

The Private Option has been a huge success here in Arkansas. We are glad to know the governor believes in its positive impact, that he cited the tremendous drop in our state’s uninsured rate, and that he used personal examples of how important the Private Option is to individuals and their families. He also highlighted how important the Private Option has been for hospitals in Arkansas, reducing the cost of treating uninsured patients by over $69 million.

We agree with Gov. Hutchinson that the goal is to have a healthier Arkansas. That’s why, moving beyond December of 2016, it will be important to have a plan that protects quality, affordable coverage for Arkansans, protects the gains we’ve made so far, and does not put up unnecessary barriers to coverage. The governor said he will create a task force that will offer advice and direction for the program’s future. It is essential that this task force include health coverage and consumer advocates who speak up for Arkansas’s low-income children and families.