Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 836 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1863 3
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By: Representatives L. Johnson, Perry 5
By: Senator Irvin 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT MANAGER 9
ACT; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10
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Subtitle 13
TO AMEND THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT 14
MANAGER ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN 15
EMERGENCY. 16
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 18
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 23-99-1705 is amended to read as follows: 20
23-99-1705. Claims. 21
(a) A contracting entity shall pay a claim for ambulance services for 22
which prior authorization was received regardless of the terminology used by 23
the transportation benefit manager or health benefit plan within thirty (30) 24
days of receipt of the claim from an ambulance provider, unless: 25
(1) Authorized ambulance services were never performed; or 26
(2) There is specific information available for review by the 27
appropriate state or federal agency that the subscriber or ambulance provider 28
has engaged in material misrepresentation, fraud, or abuse regarding the 29
claim for the authorized ambulance services. 30
(b)(1) A healthcare insurer or transportation benefit manager shall 31
pay two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule, 32
Rural Rate for a claim for ambulance services to an ambulance provider. 33
(2) An ambulance provider shall accept the payment under 34
subdivision (b)(1) of this section as payment in full for services provided 35
to the subscriber. 36 HB1863
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(3) An ambulance provider shall not balance bill or otherwise 1
demand a payment from the subscriber other than a deductible, copayment, or 2
coinsurance required under the subscriber's health benefit plan. 3
(c) Ambulance services authorized or guaranteed for payment under this 4
section for which the prior authorization is not rescinded or reversed under 5
subsection (a) of this section are not subject to audit recoupment. 6
(d)(c) A claim submitted by an ambulance provider shall include any 7
information as required by the Insurance Commissioner. 8
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 23 -99-1706, concerning enforcement and 10
rules of the Transportation Benefit Manager Act, is amended to add an 11
additional subsection to read as follows: 12
(d)(1) On and after July 1, 2025, the Arkansas Ambulance Association 13
shall collect the rates that are approved or contracted for between an 14
ambulance provider and a local government entity as provided for under § 14 -15
266-105. 16
(2) The information required under subdivision (d)(1) of this 17
section shall be submitted annually to the commissioner. 18
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SECTION 3. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 20
General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that it is necessary to resolve a 21
conflict regarding in -network and out-of-network reimbursement rates for 22
ambulance services; that the conflict is causing confusion between ambulance 23
providers, insurers, and the State Insurance Department; and that this act is 24
immediately necessary to alleviate confusion concerning reimbursement rates 25
for ambulance services. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and 26
this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public 27
peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: 28
(1) The date of its approval by the Governor; 29
(2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, 30
the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the 31
bill; or 32
(3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is 33
overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto. 34
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APPROVED: 4/17/25 36