Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HCR1007 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	State of Arkansas 1
4	4	95th General Assembly 2
5	5	Regular Session, 2025 HCR 1007 3
6	6	4
7	7	By: Representatives Painter, Vaught, McAlindon, Achor, C. Cooper, Lundstrum, K. Moore 5
8	8	By: Senator C. Penzo 6
9	9	7
10	10	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8
11	11	TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REEVALUATE 9
12	12	THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE LOCALITY 10
13	13	STRUCTURE AND ENSURE ACCURATE GEOGRAPHIC PRACTICE 11
14	14	COST INDICES FOR THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS 12
15	15	OF THIS STATE. 13
16	16	14
17	17	15
18	18	Subtitle 16
19	19	TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS 17
20	20	TO REEVALUATE THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE 18
21	21	SCHEDULE LOCALITY STRUCTURE AND ENSURE 19
22	22	ACCURATE GEOGRAPHIC PRACTICE COST 20
23	23	INDICES FOR THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL 21
24	24	AREAS OF THIS STATE. 22
25	25	23
26	26	WHEREAS, the State of Arkansas plays a vital role in the national 24
27	27	economy, serving as the headquarters for globally influential corporations 25
28	28	such as Walmart Inc., Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., as 26
29	29	well having a thriving aerospace, defense, and steel manufacturing industry; 27
30	30	and 28
31	31	29
32	32	WHEREAS, this state's diverse economic landscape includes major 30
33	33	metropolitan regions that differ significantly in cost structure from rural 31
34	34	areas, particularly within the Metropolitan Statistical Areas of 32
35	35	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (CBSA 22220), and Little Rock -North Little 33
36	36	Rock-Conway, AR (CBSA 30780), as delineated by the United States Office of 34
37	37	Management and Budget; and 35
38	38	36 HCR1007
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41	41	WHEREAS, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule locality structure 1
42	42	currently designates all regions of this state under Locality 13, grouping 2
43	43	both urban and rural areas into a single reimbursement category despite clear 3
44	44	economic and cost-of-practice differences; and 4
45	45	5
46	46	WHEREAS, the Geographic Practice Cost Indices assigned to this state do 6
47	47	not accurately reflect the actual costs incurred by medical practices in its 7
48	48	metropolitan areas, placing undue financial strain on healthcare providers, 8
49	49	and reducing access to essential medical services for residents; and 9
50	50	WHEREAS, Arkansas ranks as the third -worst state in Medicare locality 10
51	51	reimbursement, trailing only Mississippi and the "Rest of Missouri" 11
52	52	localities, further disadvantaging healthcare providers and limiting patient 12
53	53	access to care; and 13
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55	55	WHEREAS, this state's urban centers experience significantly higher 15
56	56	commercial lease rates, labor costs, and other operational expenses that 16
57	57	necessitate a reevaluation of Medicare Physician Fee Schedule localities to 17
58	58	ensure fair Medicare reimbursement and a sustainable healthcare system; and 18
59	59	19
60	60	WHEREAS, carving out CBSA 22220, which is Fayetteville -Springdale-20
61	61	Rogers, AR, and CBSA 30780, which is Little Rock -North Little Rock-Conway, 21
62	62	AR, into separate locality numbers would more accurately reflect the unique 22
63	63	economic conditions of these metropolitan areas and align Arkansas with 23
64	64	national standards for Medicare locality determination; and 24
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66	66	WHEREAS, failure to correct this misalignment perpetuates inequitable 26
67	67	healthcare reimbursement policies that hinder this state's healthcare 27
68	68	providers' ability to deliver essential medical services, 28
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70	70	NOW THEREFORE, 30
71	71	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 31
72	72	ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN: 32
73	73	33
74	74	THAT the House of Representatives and the Senate concurring encourages 34
75	75	the United States Congress to: 35
76	76	(1) Conduct a thorough review of the current Medicare Physician 36 HCR1007
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79	79	Fee Schedule locality structure as applicable to this state to ensure 1
80	80	reimbursement rates align with actual regional cost structures; 2
81	81	(2) Examine and reassess the Geographic Practice Cost Indices 3
82	82	assigned to this state's localities to guarantee that the Geographic Practice 4
83	83	Cost Indices accurately reflect the expenses incurred by healthcare providers 5
84	84	in different regions of the state; 6
85	85	(3) Carve out CBSA 22220, which is Fayetteville -Springdale-7
86	86	Rogers, AR, and CBSA 30780, which is Little Rock -North Little Rock-Conway, 8
87	87	AR, into separate locality numbers to ensure fair reimbursement that reflects 9
88	88	the economic realities of these metropolitan areas; and 10
89	89	(4) Take swift action to correct these inaccuracies to prevent 11
90	90	further financial disadvantages for the healthcare providers of this state 12
91	91	and ensure equitable access to medical services for residents. 13
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93	93	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption of this resolution, an 15
94	94	appropriate copy be provided by the Chief Clerk of the House of 16
95	95	Representatives to the the members of the Arkansas congressional delegation, 17
96	96	the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the 18
97	97	Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and 19
98	98	the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. 20
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