Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 632 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1559 3
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By: Representative McGrew 5
By: Senator J. Boyd 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO 9
SEEK A WAIVER TO THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR 10
COVERAGE FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR 11
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 16
SERVICES TO SEEK A WAIVER TO THE 17
ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR COVERAGE 18
FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR 19
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 77, Subchapter 1, is 24
amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 25
20-77-154. Inpatient treatment for substance use disorder — 26
Legislative findings. 27
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 28
(1) Substance use disorder is a significant public health 29
concern in this state; 30
(2) Inpatient treatment for substance use disorders is an 31
essential component of comprehensive care; 32
(3) Currently, inpatient treatment for substance use disorder is 33
primarily funded through federal block grants; and 34
(4) Expanding coverage in the Arkansas Medicaid Program for 35
inpatient treatment for substance use disorder could improve access to care 36 HB1559
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and patient outcomes in this state. 1
(b) The Department of Human Services shall: 2
(1)(A) Develop and submit an application to the Centers of 3
Medicare & Medicaid Services for a demonstration waiver under section 1115 of 4
the Social Security Act, as in effect January 1, 2025, for exclusion of 5
institutions for mental diseases for inpatient treatment services of 6
substance use disorder within the program. 7
(B) The application described in subdivision (b)(1)(A) of 8
this section shall: 9
(i) Allow coverage for inpatient treatment of 10
substance use disorder in facilities that qualify as institutions for mental 11
diseases; 12
(ii) Expand access to medication -assisted treatment 13
for opioid use disorder; 14
(iii) Improve care coordination for beneficiaries 15
with substance use disorder; and 16
(iv) Develop intensive outpatient services designed 17
to reduce the need for inpatient treatment services; 18
(2) Consult with relevant stakeholders, including substance use 19
disorder treatment providers, patient advocacy groups, and behavioral health 20
experts in developing the waiver application described in subdivision 21
(b)(1)(A) of this section; 22
(3) Implement expanded coverage and services as authorized and 23
approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and 24
(4) Report annually to the General Assembly on the status of the 25
waiver application described under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section, the 26
implementation progress, and outcomes of the expanded coverage. 27
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APPROVED: 4/16/25 30
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