The bill mandates that the Arkansas Medicaid Program provide reimbursement for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests. It introduces a new section, 20-77-153, which specifies that these services will be reimbursed when conducted using established Current Procedural Terminology codes, provided that the patient is located off-site from the healthcare provider and the standard of care is maintained. The reimbursement applies to both fee-for-service categories and managed care plans within the program. Additionally, the bill outlines the requirements for the digital technology used in these procedures, ensuring compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Furthermore, the bill requires the Department of Human Services to apply for any necessary federal waivers or amendments to implement the new reimbursement policy and to adopt rules for its execution. The department is tasked with filing the final rules with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2026, or as soon as practicable after receiving necessary approvals. The proposed rules must also be submitted to the Legislative Council in advance to allow for consideration before the deadline.