Health Insurance Department takes over Arkansas marketplace
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace has become part of the state's health insurance department after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed legislation dissolving the marketplace board as a separate entity.
The state Legislature established the insurance marketplace in 2013.
The Arkansas marketplace used funding from a $99.99 million federal grant in 2015 to set up exchanges that consumers and small businesses would use instead of healthcare.gov. The marketplace also approved the health plans provided in Arkansas through healthcare.gov and helped consumers sign up.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the bill goes into effect Friday.
Gov. Hutchinson signed l egislation last month that transferred control of the state's health insurance exchange to the Arkansas Health Insurance Department. The measure directed all of the marketplace's funds and other assets to be moved to the department.
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com