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Committee approves amendment to include Arkansas Works in step-therapy appeal process
Summary
Sen. Bledsoe presented an amendment to add Arkansas Works (to be renamed Arkansas Home) into step-therapy appeal protections; DHS deputy director Elizabeth Pittman said Medicaid is excluded and no direct financial impact to Medicaid is anticipated, though carriers could indirectly change premiums.
Senator Bledsoe asked the committee to add Arkansas Works (soon to be named Arkansas Home) to the state's step-therapy appeal process through an amendment to SB 99 (now Act 97). "It is about the federal law, and it is also saying, that Arkansas Works is included," Bledsoe told the committee.
Elizabeth Pittman, deputy director with the Division of Medical Services at DHS, said state Medicaid programs were not expected to incur a direct fiscal impact from the change but carriers could adjust premiums indirectly. "We don't expect any direct financial impact to Medicaid," Pittman said; she added the bill provides a time-limited appeal process for step-therapy decisions.
Committee members asked whether inclusion would raise premiums and whether Arkansas Works would be fully covered; the sponsor and DHS clarified that Medicaid is excluded while the AR Home program would be included under the amendment. The committee received no public opposition and subsequently voted the motion to pass the amended measure.
The committee's action advances the amendment for floor consideration and directs staff to complete paperwork.
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