The bill seeks to terminate the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program, transitioning 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. The bill specifies that all individuals currently enrolled in the program will be moved to the traditional Medicaid program by July 1, 2025, with the program officially ending on December 31, 2026. The Department of Human Services is responsible for notifying enrollees about the termination and managing the transfer process. Additionally, the bill deletes references to the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program Trust Fund and related provisions, while amending existing language regarding the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace to reflect the program's termination.

Moreover, the bill introduces new provisions that clarify the responsibilities of eligible individuals concerning cost-sharing and premium payments, while also outlining consequences for failing to meet participation goals. It establishes a framework for community bridge organizations to assist specific populations, such as those with high-risk pregnancies and individuals in rural areas needing mental health or substance use disorder treatment. The bill also creates the Health and Economic Outcomes Accountability Oversight Advisory Panel to review quality performance targets and provide recommendations to the Department of Human Services. Additionally, it amends existing laws regarding the insurance premium tax, removing references to the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 and individual qualified health insurance plans from eligibility for tax credits, while introducing new language for the certification of taxes based on premiums collected.

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)