TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RARE DISEASE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

HB 1532 proposes creating the Arkansas Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Department of Health to address challenges faced by Arkansans with rare diseases. The council would consist of 8 members including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and industry experts, serving 3-year terms with geographic and demographic diversity. Its key duties include researching treatment barriers (like orphan drug pricing and Medicaid coverage), recommending policy improvements for diagnosis and care access, conducting public surveys, and developing emergency care protocols for rare disease patients. The bill was filed in February 2025, referred to the Public Health Committee, and withdrawn by the author on April 14, 2025, so it has not advanced further.