The bill seeks to terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program and transition all beneficiaries to the traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program. It includes provisions to repeal the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and mandates the Governor to submit a waiver to facilitate this transition, with the program officially ending on December 31, 2024. The Department of Human Services is responsible for notifying current enrollees and managing the transition process. The bill also includes several deletions from current law, such as the repeal of the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program Trust Fund and related provisions, as well as the removal of references to the program in the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace.

In addition to terminating the program, the bill introduces new responsibilities for the Department of Human Services, including the establishment of premiums and cost-sharing levels for individuals enrolled in the traditional Medicaid program. It emphasizes the need for health insurers to implement health improvement initiatives and outreach efforts for enrolled members, while also mandating hospitals to administer community bridge organizations for high-risk populations. The bill further amends existing insurance premium tax regulations by removing references to the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and individual qualified health insurance plans, indicating a shift in how tax credits will be applied moving forward. Overall, the bill aims to streamline health insurance regulations while enhancing support for targeted health initiatives and oversight mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
SB 278: 19-5-984(b), 19-5-1146, 23-61-1001, 23-61-803(h), 26-57-604(a), 26-57-610(b)