The bill amends Arkansas Code 23-99-405 concerning mastectomy benefits provided by health benefit plans. It updates the compliance date for these plans to align with the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, changing the reference date from January 1, 2003, to January 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for healthcare insurers, including coverage for artificial or biological mesh used to support tissue and nerve grafts to preserve or restore nerve function. Insurers are mandated to reimburse healthcare providers for these services at a rate equal to or greater than 100% of the provider's acquisition cost.
Furthermore, the bill specifies that healthcare insurers cannot deny eligibility or penalize providers to avoid compliance with the new requirements. It also ensures that coverage is provided for services performed at licensed facilities, such as hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The provisions of this section will expire on June 30, 2031, unless extended by the General Assembly.