Arkansas finance secretary urges lawmakers to keep Medicaid fully funded after $400M spending hike

By: Tess Vrbin

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: September 18, 2026

Words: 573

Last Updated: 2 days, 10 hours ago

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Arkansas spent $400 million more on Medicaid between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 than the previous year, Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson told lawmakers Friday.

This increase was just above the amount in the Department of Human Services’ operating plan for fiscal year 2026, agency spokesperson Gavin Lesnick said in an email, but Hudson said state officials did not anticipate the spike in insurance claims that contributed to the spending …

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