Summary And Quick Facts On The Arkansas’ Obamacare Exchange

by Brenda Vassaur Taylor, Co-Founder of Conduit for Commerce: WHY VOTERS SAID “NO –to Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace Act 2013

Act (using the word “Marketplace” rather than “Exchange”) establishes an independent non-profit organization which

• Does not pay any state or local taxes but has complete and independent Rule making authority;
• Is not a government agency therefore is not subject to Arkansas law imposed on government agencies;
• Is run by an independent 11 member board appointed to six year terms;
• With only voter oversight being a 12 member Legislative Committee which may ask questions….with no control.

3 yr budget shows taxpayers’ dollars spent to implement government plan outside voter control:

• Total of 12 employees–cost of $4.48 Million over 3 years—only 5 paid under $95,000 per year:
  
  • Top five employees starting annual salaries at –
    
    • $200,000 + $60,000 fringe benefits= $260,000 (Exec Director)
    • $150,000 + $45,000 fringe benefits=$195,000 (Director of Operations)
    • $120,000 + $36,000 fringe benefits=$156,000 (IT Manager)
    • $110,000 + $33,000 fringe benefits=$143,000 (Director of Finance)
    • $100,000 + $30,000 fringe benefits=$130,000 (Attorney Specialist)
    • plus a 3.5% COLA annual increase for all.
  • Consultant Fees of $7 Million—in addition to highly paid management team of 12 employees
  • Travel Expense $327,350 (Staff and Board Members-in state and out of state)
  • One time conference – $200,000
  • Other–$580,550 (not categorized.)
  • Contracts with Outside firms - Total of $113.7 Million (that is almost $114 million):
    
    • Media – $10 Million
    • To Plan Management Activities – $2.25 Million (in addition to what the 7 Million dollar Consultant and management employees will be paid to do)
    • Navigators to enroll folks and train them – $5 Million
    • Call Center – $15 Million
    • IT — $81.5 Million (we know how well that works)

[Read more…]

---

Quick Facts About The Arkansas Obamacare Exchange Did you know:

• The Obamacare Exchange – called the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (Act 1500 of 2013) – is projected to cost taxpayers $40 million in 2015 and $72 million in 2016

• Salaries for the Obamacare exchange 12 employees total more than $1.1 million in year one-with its top employee receiving over $807,618 (w/benefits over 3 yrs)

• Obamacare 12 employees will receive over $330,000 worth of “fringe benefits” this year and over $1 million over the three year budget

• The Obamacare board will spend up to $3 Million on “consultant costs” this year and plan to spend $7 Million over the three year budget

• In 2015, the Obamacare board will also spend over $35 million on “contractual costs” and $68 million next year ($10 million “Media” contracts over 3 yrs)

• In 2015, the Obamacare board will spend over $325,000 on “other” expenses plus $200,000 on a single “conference” to share its “mission”

• Members of the Obamacare board are appointed by pro-Obamacare members of the legislature and Governor Beebe for an average six year term

• The Obamacare board has the authority to apply for any taxpayer-funded grant that they choose to help them implement Obamacare in Arkansas

• In 2013, the Arkansas legislature gave the Obamacare exchange the ability to convert themselves to a state-based exchange by July 1, 2015, which will lead to even more costs for Arkansas taxpayers

• If the Supreme Court rules later this year that Obamacare subsidies can only flow through state exchanges, Arkansas’s decision to implement a state exchange will not only work to support Obamacare and work counter to this ruling but will result in millions of dollars in costs and penalties for Arkansans

• Only a proactive step by the legislature to reclaim authority from the Obamacare board can stop a state Obamacare exchange from coming to Arkansas

Arkansas legislators should act swiftly to stop the implementation of a state Obamacare exchange in Arkansas and save Arkansans from this disastrous law.

Source: Budget Request and Narrative in Response to SF424A

---

Tags: Arkansas, Obamacare exchange, summary, quick facts To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!