The proposed bill aims to address discrepancies in reimbursement rates within the Arkansas Medicaid Program by prohibiting different rates for services performed by the same type of provider in varying settings. Specifically, it highlights the issue where physicians receive higher payments for services rendered in their own offices compared to the same services provided in behavioral health agencies or certified support services provider agencies. The bill emphasizes that these services utilize the same billing codes, yet the reimbursement rates differ significantly based solely on the setting, which disadvantages behavioral health providers.

To implement this change, the bill introduces a new section to the Arkansas Code, stating that the Arkansas Medicaid Program shall not pay different reimbursement rates for identical services performed by the same provider when the only variable is the service setting. Additionally, it mandates that the Department of Human Services apply for any necessary federal waivers or amendments to the Medicaid state plan to facilitate this adjustment.