Rep. Lee Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1622 amends the Medicaid Fairness Act, primarily affecting Medicaid providers and recipients. The bill modifies the definition of an "adverse decision" to include the imposition of corrective action plans. It establishes a process for providers to seek administrative reconsideration of an adverse decision with the Department of Human Services. Additionally, providers can appeal to the Office of Medicaid Provider Appeals with the Department of Health, acting either for themselves or on behalf of a recipient.

Maddy summaryHB 1424, now Act 628, mandates insurance coverage for severe obesity treatments, directly affecting insurance providers and individuals seeking such care. It requires coverage for specific bariatric surgeries, including revision surgeries for complications, along with preoperative and postoperative care like exercise and counseling. To qualify for coverage, a healthcare provider must issue a written order attesting to medical necessity based on established standards. Additionally, the covered person must affirm participation in a weight loss program and completion of necessary medical and mental health evaluations and education.

Maddy summaryHB 1320 regulates how healthcare insurers cover services provided by Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs), which offer immediate mental health or substance use crisis care. The bill expands the definition of "healthcare provider" to include CSUs under existing state laws. It generally prohibits health benefit plans from imposing utilization limitations or requiring prior authorization for CSU services, unless these align with Medicaid practices or are specifically authorized by the Insurance Commissioner. The Department of Human Services also cannot limit CSU access through utilization rules without the Insurance Commissioner's joint adoption. These changes affect healthcare insurers, CSUs, and individuals seeking crisis stabilization services.

Maddy summaryHB 1674, the HEART Act, would create an income tax credit for Arkansans who donate to qualifying rural hospitals. The credit would cover 100% of donations by individuals and up to 75% of donations by corporations. To qualify, hospitals must be located in rural counties (population under 50,000), participate in Medicaid and Medicare, provide charity care, and meet specific financial and operational criteria. The Department of Health would manage the program, maintain a list of approved hospitals, and require hospitals to use funds for healthcare services in rural communities.

Maddy summaryHB 1818, the "Medicaid Provider-Led Care Transparency and Accountability Act," establishes new standards for Arkansas Medicaid risk-based provider organizations. It requires these organizations to create a beneficiary and provider workgroup, pay for care coordination from capitated rates, prohibit "gag clauses" that restrict advocacy, and collect specific quality data for intellectual/developmental disability services. The bill also mandates standardized credentialing, limits audit frequency, and sets timelines for provider documentation. The bill was filed on March 17, 2025, referred to committee, and withdrawn by the author on April 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1727 requires adult education charter schools receiving state funding to submit annual reports on student graduation rates and post-graduation employment rates to state education officials and lawmakers. The bill mandates that funding for these schools be reviewed each year based on the data collected through these reports. This amendment, added to the bill on March 19, 2025, focuses on accountability rather than changing funding amounts. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 14, 2025, and is no longer active.

Maddy summaryHB 1816 prohibits Arkansas healthcare providers and insurers from using artificial intelligence in delivering healthcare services or creating medical records without specific approvals. It requires AI systems to first receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and pass verification by an independent quality assurance laboratory for accuracy, safety, and ethics. The bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and any entity providing healthcare services in Arkansas. It does not apply to dental-only plans, workers' compensation, or other excluded coverage types. Note: The bill was introduced on March 17, 2025, but was withdrawn by the author on April 14, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1670 would create a tax incentive program offering Arkansas income tax credits to licensed medical and counseling professionals who train students in accredited programs. Uncompensated preceptors (those not paid for mentoring) would receive $1,000 per student trained (capped at $10,000 yearly), while compensated preceptors (paid as independent contractors) would get a credit equal to their payment (capped at $6,000 yearly). The bill directly affects physicians, nurses, counselors, and physician assistants who mentor medical, nursing, counseling, or physician assistant students. Note: This bill was withdrawn by its author on April 14, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1302 would have required Arkansas newborns to be screened for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle-wasting disease, as part of the state's universal newborn screening program. The bill amended state law to add DMD to the list of conditions screened for, aligning with federal screening recommendations. This change would have directly affected all newborns in Arkansas by enabling earlier detection of DMD, potentially leading to faster intervention. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 14, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1857 changes how sales tax is collected on motorboat purchases in Arkansas. Instead of motorboat dealers collecting the tax at the time of sale, the bill requires consumers to pay the sales and use tax directly to the state Department of Finance and Administration when applying for a boat's registration certificate. This applies to both new and used motorboats sold by dealers, with specific rules for trade-ins (where tax is based on the net difference in value) and used boats sold by consumers. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Arkansas legislature but was withdrawn by its authors on April 14, 2025, and never advanced further.