Bill > HB1165

This bill addresses a specific issue within the Arkansas Medicaid Program regarding reimbursement rates for physicians' services across different settings. The legislation finds that there are significant disparities in how physicians are paid when providing the same services in different locations, particularly between a physician's own office and behavioral health agencies or certified support services provider agencies. Currently, physicians receive higher reimbursement rates when treating patients in their private offices compared to when they provide identical services in behavioral health settings, even though the billing codes are the same. The bill mandates that the Arkansas Medicaid Program must not pay different reimbursement rates for the same services performed by the same type of provider using identical billing codes when the only distinguishing factor is the setting. To implement this change, the Department of Human Services is required to apply for any necessary federal waivers or Medicaid state plan amendments. The underlying intent is to eliminate financial disincentives that could potentially disadvantage behavioral health service providers and ensure equitable compensation for medical professionals regardless of their practice setting.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1165&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R