Cheryl Smith, the former director of Utah's health insurance exchange, has been hired as the executive director of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace. The nonprofit organization was created, and compelled to explore the creation of the state's own health insurance marketplace, by the Arkansas Legislature. read more >
A federal judge granted a request Friday to temporarily block enforcement of a new Arkansas law that bans most abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy. read more >
The Arkansas Legislature wrapped up this year's legislative session Friday, passing a $4.9 billion budget and a package of $140 million in tax cuts as well as approving $125 million to help land a major employer for northeast Arkansas. read more >
As Arkansas moves forward with a plan to offer subsidized health insurance to thousands of low-income residents, it is preparing to reorganize its Medicaid program to create a new office that would investigate fraud and waste complaints. read more >
The legislative session handed Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe and the new Republican majority victories. But there were just as many setbacks that activists are unlikely to forgive. read more >
A credit outlook report by Moody's Investor Service says the state Legislature's move to expand health insurance in Arkansas through the "private option" is good for the state's hospitals. read more >
No changes were made to the structure of the Arkansas Lottery this legislative session, but one is in store for college students, as lottery-funded scholarship amounts are moving to a tiered structure. read more >
The Arkansas Legislature on Tuesday wrapped up its first session since Reconstruction in which Republicans have controlled both chambers by giving final approval to the state's $4.9 billion budget plan for the coming fiscal year. read more >
Gov. Mike Beebe has signed into law legislation that will allow Arkansas to use federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for thousands of low-income residents. read more >
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has vetoed three bills aimed at overhauling the state's election commission, including one that would create a "voter integrity unit" to investigate fraud complaints. read more >
A Republican lawmaker who was one of the key supporters of a plan to use federal Medicaid money to provide private insurance to thousands of low-income residents will lead the state Senate in the 2015 legislative session. read more >
Arkansas lawmakers have advanced legislation outlining the state's $4.9 billion budget for the coming year. read more >
Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as "Obamacare." read more >
I always thought it sheer madness for any Arkansas legislator to even entertain the thought of turning down hundreds of millions of federal dollars and refuse to expand Medicaid to 138 percent of the poverty level. And yes, I’m saying that it is sheer madness for other states to do just that. read more >
The approval of the "private option" that Arkansas is pursuing to expand health insurance in the state doesn't end the debate over an idea that supporters have touted as an innovative way to reform Medicaid and opponents have blasted as no different from "Obamacare." It's merely a preview of the fights yet to come. read more >
A package of tax cuts that's expected to eventually cost the state more than $140 million a year headed to Gov. Mike Beebe's desk Friday. read more >
An Arkansas lawmaker apologizes Friday for the timing - but not the content - of his tweet that questioned whether "Boston liberals" wished they had an assault weapon. read more >
Arkansas lawmakers have given final approval to cutting the state's taxes on taxes and capital gains, part of a package of reductions that is expected to eventually cost the state more than $140 million a year. read more >
A proposal to increase the tax that private timberland owners pay to help the financially troubled Arkansas Forestry Commission's firefighting efforts is headed to Gov. Mike Beebe's desk. read more >
Arkansas lawmakers are considering boosting funding for public schools and Medicaid while also giving state employees a 2 percent cost-of-living raise, under a $4.9 billion budget proposal that legislative leaders unveiled Thursday. read more >
