AR
Arkansas House Bill HCR1007

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HCR1007

Introduced
2/25/25  
Refer
2/25/25  
Report Pass
3/4/25  
Engrossed
3/5/25  

Caption

To Encourage The United States Congress To Reevaluate The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Locality Structure And Ensure Accurate Geographic Practice Cost Indices For The Metropolitan Statistical Areas Of This State.

Impact

The consequences of HCR1007 could be substantial for the healthcare system in Arkansas. By advocating for a change in the Medicare locality determination, the bill seeks to ensure that reimbursement rates are more accurately aligned with the actual costs incurred by providers in different regions. Such changes could alleviate financial pressures on healthcare providers, allowing them to deliver better services to residents. As Arkansas is ranked poorly in Medicare reimbursement rates, this resolution positions the state for potential relief and improvement in healthcare delivery.

Summary

HCR1007 aims to address disparities in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule locality structure in Arkansas. The resolution encourages the United States Congress to reevaluate how Medicare reimbursement is structured, particularly for specific metropolitan areas in the state like Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway. Currently, all regions in Arkansas are grouped under Locality 13, which fails to account for significant economic differences between urban and rural areas. This misclassification has led to inadequate reimbursement rates for healthcare providers, ultimately affecting patient access to essential medical services.

Contention

While HCR1007 has been received with a degree of support, it also raises questions regarding how changes to the Medicare reimbursement structure could redistribute resources within the healthcare system. Proponents argue that adjusting the locality structure is necessary for fairness, while critics might worry about the implications for rural healthcare providers who could face challenges in securing adequate funding if localities are redefined. Therefore, the resolution will likely spur discussions about balancing urban and rural healthcare needs as Congress considers the request.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR HCR1011

To Encourage The United States Congress To Encourage The Use Of Unit Dose Packaging For Narcotics And Opioids To Preserve The Health And Safety Of All Citizens Of This Nation.

AR HR1021

To Encourage The United States Congress To Enact A Trade Policy That Supports United States Businesses And Workers While Penalizing Global Polluters.

AR SR29

To Encourage The United States Congress To Enact A Trade Policy That Supports United States Businesses And Workers While Penalizing Global Polluters.

AR HR1084

To Commemorate The Fiftieth Anniversary Of The Regional Campuses Operated By The University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences.

AR SR58

To Commemorate The Fiftieth Anniversary Of The Regional Campuses Operated By The University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences.

AR HCR1002

To Encourage The United States Congress And National Security Council To Review The Status Of Forces Agreement Between The United States And Japan; And To Review The Investigation And Trial Of Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis.

AR SB86

To Require The Department Of Health To Study And Report On The Status Of Naturopathic Physicians In Arkansas And Other States.

AR HB1314

To Require The Arkansas Medicaid Program To Classify Doctors Of Optometry As Physicians Which Is The Same As Medicare And Insurance Carriers For Reimbursement.

AR HR1004

To Recognize The Arkansas Committee Of The National Museum Of Women In The Arts For Thirty-five Years Of Creative Contributions To The Citizens Of Arkansas And Continuous Support Of Women Artists In Arkansas.

AR SR23

To Recognize The Arkansas Committee Of The National Museum Of Women In The Arts For Thirty-five Years Of Creative Contributions To The Citizens Of Arkansas And Continuous Support Of Women Artists In Arkansas.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.