The bill amends the annual reimbursement cap for diagnostic laboratory services within the Arkansas Medicaid Program. Specifically, it raises the cap for diagnostic laboratory services, excluding radiology, from five hundred dollars ($500) to 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. The cap for radiology services remains unchanged at five hundred dollars ($500). Additionally, the bill mandates the Department of Human Services to establish rules for implementing these changes, with a deadline for filing the final rules set for January 1, 2026.

An emergency clause is included in the bill, highlighting the urgent need to improve the efficiency of diagnostic laboratory services due to inadequate monitoring of beneficiaries, which is linked to the opioid epidemic and increased emergency room visits. The bill emphasizes that the changes are necessary for the health and safety of Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries and aims to enhance patient care. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, to allow sufficient time for the Department of Human Services to draft the necessary rules and obtain any required federal approvals.