Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas SB626: TO REQUIRE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES; TO ENSURE PARITY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES; TO AMEND THE BILLING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PATIENTS ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY
Status: Failed, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to amend the law concerning healthcare provider reimbursement; to require fair and transparent reimbursement rates for licensed ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient psychiatric centers, and outpatient imaging facilities; to ensure parity in insurance payments for healthcare services; to amend the billing in the best interest of patients act; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. subtitle to require fair and transparent reimbursement rates; to ensure parity of healthcare services; to amend the billing in the best interest of patients act…
From the introduced text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HEALTHCARE PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT; TO REQUIRE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR LICENSED AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS, OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS, AND OUTPATIENT IMAGING FACILITIES; TO ENSURE PARITY IN INSURANCE PAYMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES; TO AMEND THE BILLING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PATIENTS ACT; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO REQUIRE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT REIMBURSEMENT RATES; TO ENSURE PARITY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES; TO AMEND THE BILLING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PATIENTS ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Arkansas's healthcare providers are at a significant disadvantage as a result of national reimbursement methodologies and receive some of the lowest commercial rates in the country; (2) In Ark. Blue Cross & Blue Shield v. Freeway Surgery Ctr., 2024 Ark. App. 540, the Arkansas Court of Appeals interpreted Arkansas law in a manner that permits insurers to reimburse licensed ambulatory surgical centers at rates lower than those paid to hospital-based facilities for the *ANS427* 04-08-2025 19:27:35 ANS427 As Engrossed: S4/8/25 SB626 same outpatient services despite the clear legislative intent to ensure reimbursement on an equal basis; (3) The interpretation in …