Volume 2; Issue 7 April 16, 2025 |
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EXPO DATES:
April 28 - May 1, 2025 | Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
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Arkansas Legislative Updates |
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DBH Management Week 13 Legislative Report
WOW, just wow! It always gets a bit hectic during the last week or so, but we have never seen anything like this! This best example I can think of came from the Senate yesterday. Senator Penzo was in the well to make the favorite motion, “I move to suspend the rules”, he was asking to have a bill of his that had failed and been expunged, placed on the end of the calendar for that day. The motion passed and then he made it again for another bill. After a number of members began asking questions, they ultimately passed a motion to suspend the rules to place all Senate bills that had passed out of committee that morning, on the end of the section of the calendar for third reading and passage of Senate bills that day! Yes there were a number of bills that were heard in committee, passed, then heard on the floor and passed, on the same day! Additionally in the Senate this week, after Tuesday, the Lt. Governor was not the Presiding Officer. They put Senator Hickey in the Chair, presumably to move things along faster. Additionally, they changed the way they “roll the vote”. Traditionally, the Presiding Officer following all discussion on a bill would ask the body if there was any objection to “rolling the vote”, if none was heard, the Secretary of the Senate would just speed read the Senator’s names, voting each member for the bill. At the end the Presiding Officer would ask if any member wanted to change their vote before casting the ballot. Sometime late Tuesday night, they changed that and just lit the board all yes without reading the names, and then asked if any member wanted to change their vote. It really did speed things up, but there were still nights where they didn’t adjourn until well after 11:00pm! In a conversation yesterday with the Secretary of the Senate, she told us that she left the building at 1:00am! One of the most contentious Bills this session, HB1150, was heard in the Senate on Wednesday. The bill, proposed by the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, requires that if a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) has any direct or indirect interest in a pharmacy or a mail order pharmacy, the Board of Pharmacy is to revoke or not renew the pharmacy license effective 1/1/2026. After very emotional testimony, including CVS pharmacy employees testifying that the bill would cost them their jobs, the bill was passed and has been sent to the Governor. A number of companies are sending letters asking the Governor to veto the bill. Our suspicion is that even if she did veto the legislature will override that veto. The impact of this bill will likely be very chaotic. As any benefit plan, including self-insured plans, that uses CVS Caremark, Optum, Express Scripts and a couple of others, will no longer be able to receive the same mail order benefits they receive today because these PBMs also own pharmacies. It is our understanding that this includes all Medicare Advantage, Medicare and Tricare plans, as they are all negotiated at the federal level and all use one of the “big three” PBMs. In addition to the almost 100 out of state mail order pharmacies, approximately 40 pharmacies located in the State will be closed because they also have in interest in a PBM. We will update you next week on the outcome of the veto request. All of our bills are moving along, we should be good by Wednesday! We are keeping our report short this week, as next week we will be sending the full session recap with more details on specific bills of interest to you. Please check your track and let us know of any major issues, as we will have three very long days next week! As always, we appreciate you! Bruce, Camie, Lee Ann, Michael and Holly
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ARAA BILL TRACKING REPORT 04/11/25 04-11-2025 - 09:51:14
 
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HB 1075
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Ray, David(R)
Bryant, Joshua(R)
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To prohibit a local government from regulating the sale or use of a lawn care device or imposing a tax or fee on the use of a lawn care device in certain circumstances. |
| Last Action: |
2-24-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 146)
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HB 1111
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Joint Budget( ) |
An Act for the Office of the Treasurer of State - Assistance to local law enforcement and emergency medical appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. |
| Last Action: |
1-27-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 7)
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HB 1145
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Wooten, Jim(R)
Hill, Ricky(R)
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To increase the purchase amount authorized for additional after-market equipment for a new motor vehicle purchased by a county or municipality. |
| Last Action: |
2-18-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 107)
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HB 1165
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To prohibit different reimbursement rates for services performed by the same type of provider in different settings within the Arkansas Medicaid program. |
| Last Action: |
3-17-25 H Withdrawn from further consideration
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| Last Action: |
3- 6-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 245)
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HB 1168
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To provide criminal immunity for healthcare professionals for negligent acts or omissions. |
| Last Action: |
1-28-25 H Withdrawn from further consideration
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HB 1169
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To clarify the admission criteria for an involuntary commitment to include a person who is in a mental condition as a result of a medical condition. |
| Last Action: |
3-20-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 383)
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HB 1172
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To add definitions to the Medicaid Fairness Act to ensure that all rule enforcement actions are appealable. |
| Last Action: |
2-25-25 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 130, H-Public Health, Welfare and Labor
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HB 1176
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Joint Budget( ) |
An Act for the Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. |
| Last Action: |
4- 8-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Received from Senate as amended - referred to H-Public Health, Welfare and Labor
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HB 1191
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Joint Budget( ) |
An Act for the Department of Public Safety appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. |
| Last Action: |
4- 8-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
2-11-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 28)
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HB 1253
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To adopt the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact in Arkansas. |
| Last Action: |
3-20-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 384)
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| Last Action: |
3-25-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 389)
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 S Placed on the Senate calendar
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| Last Action: |
2-27-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 199)
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HB 1287
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Johnson, Lee(R)
Irvin, Missy(R)
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To amend the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act; to define "downcode" under the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act; and to require notification by contracting entities of downcoding. |
| Last Action: |
2-24-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 136)
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HB 1294
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To allow an ambulance service to order certain types of healthcare services without a referral from a physician; and to mandate insurance coverage for an ambulance service to order certain types of healthcare services. |
| Last Action: |
2-20-25 H Withdrawn from further consideration
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Amendment 2 adopted
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| Last Action: |
4- 9-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
3-13-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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HB 1299
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Johnson, Lee(R)
Irvin, Missy(R)
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To prohibit healthcare insurers from exercising recoupment for payment of healthcare services more than one year after the payment for healthcare services was made. |
| Last Action: |
3-17-25 H Withdrawn from further consideration
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| Last Action: |
4- 3-25 S Passed (Vote: Y: 32/N: 0)
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| Last Action: |
4- 3-25 S Passed (Vote: Y: 32/N: 0)
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| Last Action: |
4- 8-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
2-24-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 147)
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
3-20-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 352)
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HB 1475
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Carr, Joey(R)
Crowell, Steve(R)
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To authorize the use of green lights, to amend the restrictions on lamp colors, to amend the colors of lights that may be used by emergency vehicles, and to define a roadway construction or maintenance vehicle. |
| Last Action: |
2-27-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 209)
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 S Placed on the Senate calendar
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| Last Action: |
4- 3-25 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 151, H-Revenue and Taxation
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HB 1841
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To create the Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Act; and to create the Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Fund for emergency medical services agencies. |
| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Received from Senate as amended - referred to H-Public Health, Welfare and Labor
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HB 1850
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Johnson, Lee(R) |
To amend the law concerning ground ambulance services; to clarify the minimum allowable reimbursement for ground ambulance services; and to declare an emergency. |
| Last Action: |
4-10-25 S Placed on the Senate calendar
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 S Placed on the Senate calendar
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Enrolled in the House - Sent to Governor
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Reported from committee - Do pass S-Revenue and Taxation
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HB 1944
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Vaught, DeAnn(R) |
To authorize the issuance and renewal of a special license plate to promote and support the Arkansas EMS Foundation; and to repeal the Grand Lodge of Arkansas special license plate. |
| Last Action: |
4- 8-25 S Received in the Senate - Referred to S-Transportation, Technology & Leg. Affairs
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Old Supreme Court, S-State Agencies
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SB 226
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Leding, Greg(D)
McKenzie, Brit(R)
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To amend the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act and to modify the requirements for professional development in school districts related to sudden cardiac arrest. |
| Last Action: |
3- 6-25 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 247)
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SB 257
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Penzo, Clint(R)
Lundstrum, Robin(R)
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To amend the Medicaid Fairness Act; to extend the appeal period for providers in the Arkansas Medicaid Program; and to require comprehensive information in notices of adverse decisions. |
| Last Action: |
4- 8-25 S Enrolled in the Senate - Sent to Governor
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SB 435
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Irvin, Missy(R)
Johnson, Lee(R)
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To create the criminal offense of aggravated assault upon a healthcare worker; and to define "healthcare worker" regarding assault and battery. |
| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Reported from committee - Do pass H-Judiciary
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SB 598
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English, Jane(R)
Cozart, Bruce(R)
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To amend various laws related to the Division of Workforce Services; and to amend the definition of "employee" under the Workers' Compensation Law resulting from Initiated Act 4 of 1948. |
| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Reported from committee - Do pass H-Public Health, Welfare and Labor
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| Last Action: |
4-10-25 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 130, H-Public Health, Welfare and Labor
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SR 43
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Irvin, Missy(R) |
Stars of Life Day designated to recognize Emergency Medical Services professionals. |
| Last Action: |
3-12-25 S Adopted
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All |
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Track |
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| Total Bills: |
44 |
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0 |
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REPLICA Model Legislation |
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Arkansas has become the 25th state to join the United States EMS Compact.
The Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) enables Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to practice across state lines. Over 20 states have already enacted this compact. It grants licensed EMS professionals from one member state the Privilege to Practice in other member states, supporting efficient and flexible EMS response.
To join the EMS Compact, states must enact uniform model legislation without making substantive changes.
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Arkansas Department of Heatlh: Measles Guidance for EMS 4/11/2025
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The Arkansas Department of Health has shared some guidelines that provide clinical guidance to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel who
may respond to a patient with suspected measles. Information contained in this document serves
as a reference for considerations in response. Arkansas has confirmed its second case of measles since 2018 - read more here. |
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Respiratory Virus - % of Emergency Department Visits - CDC Data The data is updated by the CDC weekly and can be accessed here. |
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ArAA wants to hear from you! |
Looking to contribute an article, news, or other information on the Pulse? Click below! |
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Looking to highlight an ArAA member on the Pulse and on the website? Click below! |
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ArAA Mission
"The ArAA is committed to promoting excellence in emergency medical services and mobile health care transportation. Our members work collaboratively to find better ways to serve others." |
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This message has been sent to you by the Arkansas Ambulance Association. If you no longer want to receive these letters, you can unsubscribe at any time.
Arkansas Ambulance Association P.O. Box 11330 El Dorado, AR 71730
Visit our website at aaaintouch.com Contact us at admin@aaaintouch.com
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