Why Managed Care is Right for Arkansas

There are many reasons, both direct and indirect, why Managed Care is the right move for Arkansas. The most obvious and tangible benefits are the hundreds of thousands of Arkansans who utilize Medicaid benefits and whose care could be greatly improved by better oversight. The other beneficiaries are the taxpayers, who will no longer be forced to shoulder the burden of a dysfunctional system.  

Another reason why Managed Care is right for Arkansas is that the state spends a disproportionate amount on high-cost services, such as full-time nursing home care, as well as care for the blind, deaf, mentally disordered, and disabled populations. While the costs of treating some patients is always greater than others, the state coordinates and provides these services in very costly and inefficient ways. What is needed is professionalism from the private sector to help modify care for these patients in a way that is both better for the patient and less expensive for the taxpayer. 

Arkansas is at a crossroads. Forty states have already seen the benefits of Managed Care for Medicaid programs and are reaping the rewards. Meanwhile, Arkansas is lagging behind. Every year the state delays this inevitable progress, more taxpayer funds are being wasted on inefficient care for those Arkansans most in need. And every dollar that goes down the drain of a mismanaged Medicaid system are dollars that can’t be used by the state to improve schools, roads and other public services. According to the Stephen Group Report, those funds amount to $2.5 billion over five years. 

The Partners for a Healthier Arkansas seek to provide Arkansas with a solution to the Medicaid problem that benefits all the parties involved. With better oversight tools for analyzing and tracking patient care, a sound professional background in managing high-risk insurance groups, and the experience and expertise to bring efficiency to an all but broken system, the Partners for a Healthier Arkansas are ready to offer the state professional management of Medicaid services at a price that will open new doors for state legislators.