Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1055 3
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By: Representatives J. Mayberry, Rye, Breaux, Springer 5
By: Senators C. Penzo, F. Love 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH COVERAGE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 9
TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR 10
OTHER DEMENTIA-RELATED DISEASE UNDER THE STATE AND 11
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM; AND 12
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
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Subtitle 16
TO ESTABLISH COVERAGE DIAGNOSIS AND 17
TREATMENT TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF 18
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR OTHER DEMENTIA -19
RELATED DISEASE UNDER THE STATE AND 20
PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 21
PROGRAM. 22
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 5, Subchapter 4, is amended 26
to add an additional section to read as follows: 27
21-5-425. Coverage for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease 28
or other dementia-related disease — Legislative findings and intent — Rules. 29
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 30
(1) Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in 31
Arkansas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 32
(2) The cost of managing the complications of late -stage 33
Alzheimer's disease, largely due to delayed diagnosis and access to 34
treatment, outweighs the cost of expeditious and effective treatment; 35
(3) The diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other 36 HB1055
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dementia-related disease should be a clinical decision made by a physician 1
based on evidence-based guidelines; and 2
(4) The United States Food and Drug Administration has granted 3
approval for treatments of patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's 4
disease. 5
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide coverage for 6
the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia -related 7
disease. 8
(c) Each state employee's and public school employee's health benefit 9
plan under the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program that 10
is offered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, shall offer 11
coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other 12
dementia-related disease as determined by a physician licensed to practice 13
medicine in this state. 14
(d) The coverage and treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other 15
dementia-related disease offered under subsection (c) of this section shall: 16
(1) Be a treatment or medication that has been approved by the 17
United States Food and Drug Administration to treat or slow the progression 18
of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia -related disease; 19
(2) Include without limitation: 20
(A) Any diagnostic testing that is necessary for a 21
physician to determine the appropriate use of treatments and medications 22
under subdivision (d)(1) of this section; and 23
(B) All treatments or medications prescribed to slow the 24
progression of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia -related disease; and 25
(3) Not be subject to step therapy protocols. 26
(e) The State Board of Finance may promulgate rules to implement this 27
section. 28
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