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 1858 3
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By: Representative Ladyman 5
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO REQUIRE A PEDIATRICIAN TO SCREEN FOR TYPE 1 9
DIABETES AT THE YEARLY WELL-CHILD VISIT; TO REQUIRE 10
THAT THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM AND HEALTH BENEFIT 11
PLANS COVER TYPE 1 DIABETES SCREENINGS; AND FOR OTHER 12
PURPOSES. 13
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Subtitle 16
TO REQUIRE A PEDIATRICIAN TO SCREEN FOR 17
TYPE 1 DIABETES AT THE YEARLY WELL -CHILD 18
VISIT; AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE ARKANSAS 19
MEDICAID PROGRAM AND HEALTH BENEFIT 20
PLANS COVER TYPE 1 DIABETES SCREENINGS. 21
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 23
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 15, Subchapter 1, is 25
amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 26
20-15-103. Screening for Type 1 diabetes — Legislative findings. 27
(a) The General Assembly finds that pediatricians do not regularly 28
screen for Type 1 diabetes and often the diagnosis is only discovered due to 29
an emergency hospitalization. 30
(b) A pediatrician shall screen for Type 1 diabetes during the yearly 31
well-child visit beginning at three (3) years of age. 32
(c) The screening under subsection (b) of this section shall include a 33
hemoglobin A1c testing, blood sugar testing, and further antibody testing if 34
the pediatrician determines the antibody testing is necessary or if there is 35
a family history of Type 1 diabetes. 36 HB1858
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 77, Subchapter 1, is 2
amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 3
20-77-155. Screening for Type 1 diabetes. 4
(a) The Arkansas Medicaid Program shall cover screening for Type 1 5
diabetes under § 20-15-103. 6
(b) The Department of Human Services shall apply for any federal 7
waiver, Medicaid state plan amendment, or other authorization necessary to 8
implement this section. 9
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SECTION 3. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 79, Subchapter 1 is amended 11
to add an additional section to read as follows: 12
23-79-170. Coverage of Type 1 diabetes screening — Definition. 13
(a)(1) As used in this section, “health benefit plan” means: 14
(A) An individual, blanket, or group plan, policy, or 15
contract for healthcare services issued or delivered by an insurer, health 16
maintenance organization, hospital medical service corporation, or self -17
insured governmental or church plan in this state; and 18
(B) Any health benefit program receiving state or federal 19
appropriations from the State of Arkansas, including the Arkansas Medicaid 20
Program and the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program, or any 21
successor program. 22
(2) As used in this section, “health benefit plan” includes: 23
(A) An indemnity and managed care plan; and 24
(B) A nonfederal governmental plan as defined in 29 U.S.C. 25
§ 1002(32), as it existed on January 1, 2025. 26
(3) As used in this section, “health benefit plan” does not 27
include: 28
(A) A disability income plan; 29
(B) A credit insurance plan; 30
(C) Insurance coverage issued as a supplement to liability 31
insurance; 32
(D) Medical payments under an automobile or homeowner's 33
insurance plan; 34
(E) A health benefit plan provided under Arkansas 35
Constitution, Article 5, § 32, the Workers' Compensation Law, § 11 -9-101 et 36 HB1858
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seq., or the Public Employee Workers' Compensation Act, § 21 -5-601 et seq.; 1
(F) A plan that provides only indemnity for hospital 2
confinement; 3
(G) An accident-only plan; 4
(H) A specified disease plan; or 5
(I) A long-term-care-only plan. 6
(b) A health benefit plan that is offered, issued, or renewed in this 7
state shall provide coverage for Type 1 diabetes screening under § 20 -15-103 8
by a pediatrician on or after January 1, 2026. 9
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