Bill > HB1298

This bill modifies Arkansas laws related to health insurance claims payment, primarily focusing on out-of-network healthcare provider reimbursement. The bill requires healthcare insurers to pay claims for hospital, nursing, medical, or surgical services directly to the healthcare provider for out-of-network claims, which is a new mandatory provision. It provides detailed definitions of "health benefit plan" and "healthcare insurer", specifying which types of insurance plans are included or excluded from these definitions. The bill clarifies that health benefit plans encompass individual, group, and blanket insurance plans, as well as state and federal healthcare programs like Arkansas Medicaid. The legislation explicitly excludes certain types of insurance from these requirements, such as dental-only plans, disability income plans, credit insurance, and specialized disease plans. The bill amends three sections of Arkansas Code (23-85-114, 23-86-104, and 23-86-112) to standardize language and implement these new payment requirements across different types of health insurance policies. The primary aim appears to be ensuring more direct and transparent payment processes for healthcare providers, particularly those working outside of an insurance company's network.

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https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1298&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R