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 1296 3
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By: Representative L. Johnson 5
By: Senator Irvin 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES 9
PROVIDED IN MOBILE UNITS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10
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Subtitle 13
TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR HEALTHCARE 14
SERVICES PROVIDED IN MOBILE UNITS. 15
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 17
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 79, Subchapter 1, is 19
amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 20
23-79-169. Coverage for healthcare services provided in mobile units — 21
Definitions. 22
(a) As used in this section: 23
(1) "Cost-sharing requirement" means a deductible, coinsurance, 24
copayment, or any maximum limitation on the application of a deductible, 25
coinsurance, copayment, or similar out -of-pocket expense under a health 26
benefit plan; 27
(2)(A) "Health benefit plan" means: 28
(i) An individual, blanket, or group plan, policy, 29
or contract for healthcare services issued or delivered by a healthcare 30
insurer; and 31
(ii) A health benefit program receiving state or 32
federal appropriations from the State of Arkansas, including the Arkansas 33
Medicaid Program and the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program or 34
any successor program. 35
(B) "Health benefit plan" does not include: 36 HB1296
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(i) A plan that includes only eye and vision care 1
benefits; or 2
(ii) A health benefit plan provided under the 3
Workers' Compensation Law, § 11-9-101 et seq.; 4
(3)(A) "Healthcare insurer" means an insurance company, a 5
hospital and medical service corporation, a health maintenance organization, 6
a risk-based provider organization, or a sponsor of a self -funded health 7
benefit plan, that: 8
(i) Is subject to: 9
(a) The insurance laws of this state; 10
(b) Section 23-75-101 et seq., pertaining to 11
hospital and medical service corporations; or 12
(c) Section 23-76-101 et seq., pertaining to 13
health maintenance organizations; or 14
(ii) For a healthcare insurer in another state: 15
(a) Is not otherwise exempt from the insurance 16
laws of this state; and 17
(b) Has any subscribers in this state. 18
(B) "Healthcare insurer" includes the Arkansas Medicaid 19
Program. 20
(C) "Healthcare insurer" does not include an entity that 21
provides only eye and vision care benefits; 22
(4) "Healthcare provider" means: 23
(A) A doctor of medicine, a doctor of osteopathy, or 24
another licensed healthcare professional acting within the professional's 25
licensed scope of practice; or 26
(B) A healthcare facility licensed in the state where the 27
facility is located to provide healthcare services; 28
(5) "Healthcare service" means a healthcare procedure, 29
treatment, or service provided by a healthcare provider; 30
(6) "Mobile unit" means a premanufactured structure, trailer, or 31
self-propelled unit equipped with a chassis on wheels that: 32
(A) Is intended to provide healthcare services on a 33
temporary basis; and 34
(B) Conforms to applicable rules promulgated by the 35
Department of Health; and 36 HB1296
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(7) "Subscriber" means an individual who is entitled to receive 1
healthcare services under the terms of a health benefit plan. 2
(b) A healthcare insurer shall provide coverage to a subscriber for a 3
healthcare service that is: 4
(1) Provided in a mobile unit; 5
(2) Billed by a healthcare provider using the place -of-service 6
code designated for a mobile unit; and 7
(3) Otherwise covered by the healthcare insurer in another place 8
of service. 9
(c) A healthcare insurer shall ensure that a subscriber's cost -sharing 10
requirement for a healthcare service that is provided in a mobile unit is no 11
less favorable than the cost -sharing requirement that is applicable to the 12
same healthcare service provided in another place of service. 13
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