Poll: Majority of Arkansans in Favor of Medicaid Expansion

New opinion research released on Wednesday showed a majority of Arkansans supporting Medicaid expansion.

The survey was conducted on behalf of the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) by noted Arkansas pollster Ernie Oakleaf at Opinion Research Associates.

"Arkansans are tuned-in to the issue and supporting Medicaid expansion for various reasons, foremost among which is the feeling of obligation to take care of those in need, but it is not the only reason for the shifts in public opinion, as the survey showed," Oakleaf said.

When asked, "Have you recently seen, read, or heard anything about the Medicaid program in Arkansas?" 69 percent of respondents answered yes.

Some 65 percent of Arkansans surveyed support expansion, including 53 percent of Arkansans who "definitely" support the expansion.

When asked about specific reasons to support or oppose the expansion, three reasons were of particular note among voters, testing between 70 and 90 percent:

• When asked about the threat of "many hospitals, especially in rural or less populated areas of the state, are in danger of closing." 70% of respondents said they were more likely to support expansion.
• 70 percent of respondents said the potential job cuts at local hospitals made them more likely to support expansion.
• 90 percent of respondents agreed that "We have a moral obligation to take care of those in need" when asked.

The poll had a sample size of 602 registered voters in Arkansas, a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent. It was conducted from February 5 to February 21, 2013.