The bill seeks to terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program and transition all beneficiaries to the traditional Arkansas Medicaid Program. It establishes a timeline for this transition, directing the Governor to submit a waiver for the transfer of enrollees by July 1, 2025, and to officially end the program by December 31, 2026. The Department of Human Services is responsible for notifying current enrollees and facilitating their transfer. The bill also includes provisions to repeal various sections of the Arkansas Code related to the program, including the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021, and amends existing legal language to ensure compliance with reporting requirements while removing references to the now-defunct program.

In addition to the program's termination, the bill proposes significant changes to health benefit plans and community bridge organizations in Arkansas. It removes previous restrictions on out-of-pocket costs and eliminates requirements for health insurers regarding premium payments and medical-loss ratios. The bill establishes a framework for community bridge organizations to assist high-risk populations and creates a Health and Economic Outcomes Accountability Oversight Advisory Panel to review performance targets. Furthermore, it amends the insurance premium tax regulations by removing references to the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and introduces new language for the certification of taxes based on premiums collected, ensuring proper classification and distribution of funds.

Statutes affected:
SB 62: 19-5-984(b), 19-5-1146, 23-61-1001, 23-61-803(h), 26-57-604(a), 26-57-610(b)