Sen. Missy Irvin

Maddy summaryHB 1241 requires Arkansas Medicaid to cover dental and anesthesia costs for complex oral health care requiring sedation for individuals aged 18+ who need high-complexity dental procedures. It sets specific reimbursement limits: $3,750 per treatment episode and a $5,000 annual cap per person, excluding discounts or rebates. The law applies to accredited dental schools and academic medical centers providing these services. This policy directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries needing specialized dental care and the healthcare providers who serve them.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 (now Act 556) requires health insurers to cover healthcare services provided through mobile units, such as community health vans or temporary clinics. This law directly affects health insurance plans and providers offering mobile services by mandating that these services be included in standard coverage, removing a previous exclusion for mobile care. The bill amends coverage definitions to ensure mobile unit services are treated the same as in-person care under health benefit plans. It passed both chambers in April 2025 and became effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1788 amends Arkansas' Health Care Consumer Act by increasing the processing time for healthcare provider applications from 60 to 90 days. This change directly affects healthcare providers seeking licensure or renewal in Arkansas, as it extends the timeframe for state agencies to review applications. The bill, now Act 571 after becoming law on April 14, 2025, modifies a procedural requirement under the existing act. The amendment was passed by both legislative chambers in April 2025 and signed into law, with no other substantive policy changes to provider requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1703 (now Act 570) establishes a new process for reimbursing healthcare providers for drugs. It directly affects healthcare providers and insurance companies or health plans (referred to as "contracting entities"). The key provision requires providers to notify insurers when a drug’s cost to them is below the agreed reimbursement rate; upon receiving this notice, insurers must adjust rates to at least 110% of the provider’s actual drug cost without requiring an appeal. This change ensures faster reimbursement adjustments for low-cost drugs, streamlining the process for affected providers.

Maddy summaryHB 1426 amends the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act to clarify rules governing healthcare contracts between insurers and providers. It prohibits enforcing hidden "all-products clauses" (rules requiring providers to accept all insurer products) even if not explicitly stated in contracts. The bill also requires insurers to give providers the right to opt out of network transfers during sales/leases and to disclose specific contact information (name, address, phone, email) for customer service. These changes directly affect healthcare insurers, providers, and third-party administrators managing health benefit plans.

Maddy summarySB 463 requires Arkansas public utilities to obtain approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before entering settlement agreements that would close or eliminate power plants or transmission assets. The bill directly affects utilities, the Commission, and consumers by mandating that settlements must legally resolve claims, not exceed regulatory costs, and avoid decisions driven by environmental goals rather than law. The Commission must evaluate whether proposed settlements are legally sound, cost-justified for consumers, and based on reasonable legal interpretations before approving or denying them. This creates a new review process to ensure settlements protect consumer interests and comply with state regulations. The bill does not change existing utility operations but adds oversight for specific settlement agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 amends Arkansas' Prior Authorization Transparency Act to clarify rules for healthcare providers and insurers regarding prior authorization requests. It requires insurers to approve at least 80% of prior authorization requests for a specific service to qualify for provider exemptions, and sets a 12-month window for providers to request new evaluations after a denial. The bill also modifies the appeals process, requiring insurers to pay 50% of independent review costs if they successfully overturn a prior authorization denial. These changes aim to increase transparency and reduce unnecessary denials in healthcare coverage decisions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 320 amends multiple Arkansas statutes to update references to the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, specifically citing sections §9-27-301 et seq. and §9-35-101 et seq. The bill clarifies how the juvenile code applies to cases involving underage alcohol possession, custody transfers, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. It ensures consistent legal references across statutes without changing substantive law. This affects juvenile courts, law enforcement, and child welfare agencies when handling cases under the juvenile code.

Maddy summaryHB 1300 amends the Prior Authorization Transparency Act to increase clarity for healthcare providers and patients regarding insurance prior authorization requirements. It requires health insurers to publish aggregated online lists of step therapy rules, service location restrictions, benefit category limits, excluded services, and post-service review requirements - using standardized billing codes. Insurers must also provide healthcare providers 60 days' written notice of any changes to these published policies, down from 90 days. The bill directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients navigating coverage approvals for medical services.

Maddy summaryHB 1314 creates the Arkansas Medical Audit Bill of Rights Act, directly affecting healthcare providers (excluding pharmacies) facing audits by state or federal agencies. The bill limits audits to either 50 claims or 0.25% of a provider’s annual claims, whichever is greater, and gives providers the choice to conduct audits on-site, electronically, or via the method used in the initial audit. It also clarifies that overpayments must be recouped only if corrected claims are paid on the same date, preventing retroactive penalties for minor billing errors. These changes aim to make audit processes more predictable and less burdensome for healthcare providers.