The bill amends the annual cap for diagnostic laboratory services within the Arkansas Medicaid Program, specifically adjusting the reimbursement limits. The new language establishes that the annual cap for diagnostic laboratory services will be set at a minimum of five hundred dollars ($500), or one thousand eight hundred dollars ($1,800) if the beneficiary is diagnosed with chronic pain or is undergoing pain management. This replaces the previous wording that specified the cap as "five hundred dollars ($500)." Additionally, the cap for radiology services remains unchanged at five hundred dollars ($500).

The bill also includes provisions for the Department of Human Services to create necessary rules for implementation, with a deadline for filing these rules set for January 1, 2026. An emergency clause is included, highlighting the urgent need to improve efficiency in diagnostic laboratory services due to inadequate monitoring linked to the low reimbursement cap, which is contributing to issues such as the opioid epidemic and increased emergency room visits. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, to ensure the health and safety of Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries.