The bill aims to authorize the Arkansas Medicaid Program to recognize physician assistants as primary care providers. It introduces a new section to the Arkansas Code, specifically 20-77-154, which outlines the conditions under which a physician assistant can serve as a primary care provider. Under this provision, a physician assistant, with the authorization of their supervising physician, will be recognized as the initial healthcare provider and will be allowed to treat patients within their scope of practice.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the Arkansas Medicaid Program will reimburse physician assistants at a rate not less than the current reimbursement for services they provide, as well as covering 100% of the physician reimbursement rate for any out-of-pocket costs incurred by the physician assistant for laboratory tests and other necessary procedures. It also mandates that healthcare insurance policies funded by the program must recognize and reimburse physician assistants accordingly. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not expand the scope of practice or licensure for physician assistants and requires them to provide written authorization from their supervising physician when applying to be recognized as primary care providers.