[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6594767,"mediaKeyId","3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb","parentId",3090785,"title","Committee clarifies insurer obligations for ambulatory surgery centers converted to temporary hospitals","audioSeconds",93,"startMs",63000,"endMs",156000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb&start=63&end=156","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb/thumbnail_63000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6594767/Arkansas/Committee-clarifies-insurer-obligations-for-ambulatory-surgery-centers-converted-to-temporary-hospitals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594767-6e06797340410518a1625ac240d3d88e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148967&Signature=ShL-T62LEs8xNA8TS3P2z1sJSJr5VcHY7PNMaU5R~dR~K93A~RK8apw1oVR~~6mKrdfnQTh2p9FUikossKMo7ZtLMhXZc3gxWtOB0MOL7vUBLm4R9VGaO6NWROcj3kiX1vzqOsIvCDF-ufnn67zuLhsXs67ff~9WG9E~HrtaJKBWVvcNe2mAKkY5N15fZd9UIA-HxjdXF6aKnRsUAOz07pXvVCR~71BqtanCyCgfgeI6ZJboIeAQN0BzWdnRnSuICU7YnmXR9hT1vk8TtecmHBJdOSfU9IVv4T4zSUDseHcENqr2L5NuN4rvQiU4IGV1p-dZtsp4lA0sG-p3rF2Vxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE","date","2025-04-08T10:00:00Z","article","The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee advanced a bill sponsored by Sen. Missy Irvin clarifying insurer obligations when ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) convert to temporary hospitals during public‑health emergencies. The sponsor said the measure would give the Arkansas Insurance Department clearer authority to enforce a law the legislature passed to allow certain ASCs to operate as temporary hospitals in emergencies.

Sen. Missy Irvin told the committee the legislature passed the original conversion law in 2021 and that two ASCs in Arkansas had converted under that authority. In testimony, Jason Hendren of law firm Hall Booth Smith explained that one insurer had declined to treat those temporary hospitals as hospitals for contracting and reimbursement purposes. \"This bill makes it clear that they have no choice,\" Hendren said, arguing the change would make the department's enforcement authority explicit and make relief retroactive for the two ASCs that converted after the 2021 law and state executive orders.

The sponsor and presenters cited a governor’s executive order and federal actions by Medicare and Medicaid during COVID‑19 that created a pathway for temporary hospital reimbursement. Committee members asked whether the bill carried a fiscal impact for the state. Counsel and witnesses said it should not, and that the bill addresses private‑payer obligations.

The committee endorsed the bill by motion; the sponsor closed and made the formal motion for passage. The motion carried on a voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally. The measure will be transmitted along the legislative process for further consideration.

Ending note: Sponsors presented the bill as a technical clarification intended to ensure private insurers comply with the legislature’s 2021 policy to allow ASCs to serve as temporary hospitals in emergencies. The committee advanced the bill with no recorded amendments or formal fiscal impact on state government.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE - Apr 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee advanced a bill clarifying that insurers must provide hospital‑level contracts when ambulatory surgical centers convert to temporary hospitals during public‑health emergencies.","taxTitle","INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas","taxId",25427,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6594758,"Committee advances package of technical and licensing bills in brief votes",7646,510000,8156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb&start=510&end=8156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb/thumbnail_510000.jpg","/articles/6594758/Arkansas/Committee-advances-package-of-technical-and-licensing-bills-in-brief-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594758-1c7e0a471e907fc838441f9463bf2ac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148967&Signature=k9OYfsCBVLzer37WBh0Jxrom5RwBkTlPdC3QGqDxGssGG-y7sny0ISU~Zyb8vC9BI8HZQX1rHZ1M~5l13TTo4PuXExEQBM0HsgjiMJYTqg3J~rD6~PrLF7iG9JQgMqF15rqT932lZ-CZYIohO2JmS3heDrFoQcKUC4e~Jn7CYxFkBdiXD5cCDU87H6Gy1J371rvN6aSvngj7EVDojuNdXT~9vu7kkcf7186osbiG9QVIbr9lEMMRJWWT0MRd4ilnQdtbgrsBVkudnu5W-CQOZeaWNX0kPKECJnZImWl~57nlWgUV7nuAgYUT1SYg1bcbIGI3KMsopGgOg6eUfFUpZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alongside several debated items, the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee cleared a set of shorter, largely technical or licensing bills by voice votes.

Key outcomes recorded in the hearing record:

- House Bill 17‑35 (sponsor Sen. Missy Irvin presented): Amends the Arkansas Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act to revise membership in the state one‑call center and add penalties for operators that fail to join. Sponsor said the change clarifies that operators of underground facilities must become members of the one‑call center and confirmed the Public Service Commission is the commission referenced in the statute. The committee voted to pass the bill.

- House Bill 18‑47 (as amended): Created a statewide self‑exclusion list for gambling venues so individuals can opt in once and be excluded statewide. Committee passed the bill as amended.

- House Bill 18‑26: Allows insurance coverage for deliveries at licensed birthing centers; sponsor Rep. Mary Bentley said the state currently has no licensed birthing centers and the bill would align birthing‑center coverage with hospital coverage. Committee passed the bill.

- House Bill 18‑50 and House Bill 18‑63: Technical ambulance/EMS bills. HB 18‑50 clarified minimum in‑network/out‑of‑network ambulance reimbursement (set at 325% of the Medicare rate where municipal/county contract rates are not adopted); HB 18‑63 assigned the Arkansas Ambulance Association responsibility to collect ordinance‑level contracted rates and provide those to the Insurance Department. Both bills passed.

- House Bill 13‑20: Added crisis stabilization units to the \"any willing provider\" list for relevant state health plan purposes; passed on a favorable motion.

Each measure moved on a committee voice vote; the transcript does not show roll‑call tallies for these items. Sponsors characterized most of these as clarifications or technical fixes rather than policy overhauls.

Ending note: Committee business continued with greater debate reserved for major bills; these technical and licensing measures were advanced to allow further floor or committee consideration in the legislative process.","The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee cleared a package of technical and licensing bills by voice votes, advancing measures on one‑call membership, ambulance reimbursement, birthing‑center coverage, gambling self‑exclusion and crisis stabilization units.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6594762,"Senate committee approves study bill to explore small modular nuclear reactors",67,370000,437000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb&start=370&end=437","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb/thumbnail_370000.jpg","/articles/6594762/Arkansas/Senate-committee-approves-study-bill-to-explore-small-modular-nuclear-reactors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594762-cfa05d3e9d7b0f06ff703cfb7d6ef234/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148967&Signature=LHOma45YOLdNcvZkS-wV4ZNmCjQpc6qp8QLlAtwXCrMV8tyW~tJOe0MtGLh04we2i8LnDJhKf4CDYFL94CZhutytOPrJD1CWtex2lqZKP024zyrUVcuBFPXNkSw-jFvMnxB7aTKWmz1jYGtdwRZv9vIsgfvgCDAqN-RIM-AaDux84a~HxG7gCjEnEg1w1BOxCdJVctni5GOmXSjDWrkh0JabLlUoIW8WgME3jttWdXFMYpv3q6IjGl-vsoroLc-6M1I40q9pnn60ZNw9KQLir~sUZypb41cprByQHxva3tPWnoQWMhT7Jn3-dAKA52z29p~H8J~NkrgQItYOnQj3lQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass House Bill 15‑72, a study bill to evaluate small modular reactor (SMR) technology and siting considerations in Arkansas.

Sen. Matt McKee, the bill sponsor, told committee members the measure \"is basically just the first step in moving forward\" with research into SMRs and the changing energy mix. \"While we probably don't want to be a first adopter, we do want to be early adopters,\" McKee said, describing the bill as a way to gather information and prepare state policymakers for future decisions.

Committee members sought clarity about whether the bill prioritized any particular site. McKee said the measure does not direct study toward Fort Smith or any single location and instead is intended to identify the best potential locations across the state. After brief questions, the committee approved the bill by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and a unanimous voice response to move the bill forward.

Ending note: The bill passed as a study authorization intended to inform later policy choices; committee members indicated limited debate and unanimous support during the hearing.","Sen. Matt McKee’s study bill to evaluate small modular reactor technology and potential siting options cleared the Insurance & Commerce Committee on a unanimous voice vote. Sponsors said the measure is an early step to understand technical and policy implications for Arkansas energy planning.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6594771,"Senate committee advances bill to bar PBMs from owning both benefit manager and pharmacy",508,721000,1229000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb&start=721&end=1229","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3090785-af811868412b02989d979df6178eaeeb/thumbnail_721000.jpg","/articles/6594771/Arkansas/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-bar-PBMs-from-owning-both-benefit-manager-and-pharmacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594771-feba55680dba8376282f6c580dacaaa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148967&Signature=UkrB6iS7--5qj~5cuShX7qaKcCw6oVI6J3jb8uLz7UkS06ksUudaGC~9hxTBzjoRTMxabspJCiY676yH-cN8jv-7ZtkhkfjeYNAJkldsJ2XnyaG2Ja6vWh6KNVBAlo1McYosuv5srESadifiu8PbYtIqYXGgRsOXFtsKwF56KywbGjLC7NyOGUvOeWQiBVY35nE6l4ZWvOyglKIT-BzrUpZeOW~33-4LQCXufZPinjNyYMjgNLBZfzSmTUZ5kjXk2nbOxqDPr5vARk9bwvHG7WnJlxD88aSHA3j37lTZyElRJfb31AMhvubR6k5X5xC3BSBz5PlCZBJW34JlB-JhdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to advance House Bill 11‑50 on a voice vote after more than two hours of public testimony for and against the measure. The bill, introduced in the House and presented to the committee by Sen. Kim Hammer, would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, from both administering pharmacy benefits and owning or operating pharmacies that fill those prescriptions.

The measure’s sponsors and many pharmacists said the law is intended to stop what they described as “steering” of patients and large markups for specialty drugs when PBMs send prescriptions to pharmacies they own. \"This bill is about restoring choice, improving access, ensuring affordability, and trusting the local care that so many Arkansans depend on,\" said Sen. Kim Hammer, the bill sponsor, during closing remarks to the committee.

Why it matters: Supporters said PBM-owned pharmacies are taking high-cost specialty fills away from local pharmacies and marking up prices, increasing costs for patients and payers. They pointed to a Federal Trade Commission study and other national reporting that, in the supporters’ characterization, shows most high-cost specialty spending routed to a small number of vertically integrated chains. \"Reining in these monopolies could dramatically lower cost not only for patients, but also for providers or employers and health care plans across Arkansas,\" said Britney Sanders, president of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, during her testimony. Patient advocates described cases in which long‑term, temperature‑sensitive medications arrived by mail exposed to heat, and relatives said the loss of local pharmacy relationships had harmed continuity of care.

Opponents, including the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and representatives from national pharmacy chains and pass‑through PBMs, argued the bill would reduce consumer choice and cost jobs. \"This bill is a punitive measure to remove competition from the market,\" said Randy Zook of the Arkansas State Chamber. CVS employees and pharmacy staff told the committee the legislation could put them out of work. \"If this bill passes, I will lose my job,\" said Ashley Ellis, a CVS district leader.

Committee questioning focused on enforcement, the scope of the ban and how federal plans such as TRICARE and VA programs would be treated. Proponents said federal programs and military pharmacies typically fall outside state licensure, and that the bill would not affect services on military bases; opponents warned of unintended access problems for veterans and long‑term‑care residents.

The committee heard multiple types of testimony about specialty drugs and dispensing models. Pharmacists and specialty pharmacy representatives described clinical reasons some pharmacies provide additional services (such as infusion support, lab coordination, or 24/7 on‑call clinical support), and several witnesses said those services can be provided by Arkansas‑based pharmacies. Opponents warned that some specialty drugs are available only through limited or exclusive distribution arrangements and that restricting PBM ownership could disrupt access for thousands of patients.

The committee advanced the bill after sponsor remarks and a voice vote. The sponsor and many witnesses asked for continued work on amendments to protect community mental health center pharmacies, long‑term‑care pharmacies and veterans; the record shows some members raised procedural and constitutional concerns, including references to Article II, Section 19 of the Arkansas Constitution (on monopolies).

Ending note: The bill passed committee and will proceed in the legislative process. Supporters framed the measure as a state‑level fix to practices they consider national in scope; opponents warned of job losses and disruptions to care that, they said, could disproportionately affect vulnerable patients such as long‑term‑care residents and veterans.","After hours of testimony from pharmacists, patient advocates and industry representatives, the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to advance House Bill 11‑50, which would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from simultaneously operating as PBMs and retail or mail-order pharmacies in Arkansas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee clarifies insurer obligations for ambulatory surgery centers converted to temporary hospitals

Committee advances package of technical and licensing bills in brief votes

Senate committee approves study bill to explore small modular nuclear reactors

Senate committee advances bill to bar PBMs from owning both benefit manager and pharmacy