The bill amends Arkansas law regarding ground ambulance services by establishing a new subchapter that outlines a minimum allowable reimbursement for these services. It introduces definitions for key terms such as "enrollee," "ground ambulance services," "ground ambulance service provider," "health benefit plan," and "healthcare insurer." The bill specifies that the minimum reimbursement rate for ground ambulance services under any health benefit plan must align with rates approved or contracted between ambulance service providers and local government entities. If no such rates exist, the reimbursement will be the lesser of the rate established by the Workers Compensation Commission or the provider's billed charges.
Additionally, the bill mandates that payments made under this new reimbursement structure will be considered full payment for covered services, excluding any copayments or deductibles required from the enrollee. It also requires healthcare insurers to remit payment directly to ground ambulance service providers within thirty days and prohibits sending payments to enrollees. This legislation aims to ensure fair compensation for ground ambulance services while clarifying the responsibilities of healthcare insurers.