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Committee passes a package of health bills; summary of votes and outcomes
Summary
The committee advanced a series of health‑related bills by voice vote: concurrence on amendments to SB341, House Bill 1659 (death certificate filing), SB568 (long‑term care licensing and management review), HB1622 (Medicaid fraud/boarding care definition), HB1623 (qui tam notification), SB527 (abortion transfer agreements), and SB395 (Medicaid lab/diagnostic cap changes).
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee considered and advanced multiple bills by voice vote during the session.
Key outcomes:
- Senate Bill 341: Committee adopted two House amendments by voice vote and concurred; amendments adopted and bill to go to the floor (SEG 003–038).
- House Bill 1659: Tightened electronic death‑certificate submission rules and narrowed waiver criteria; committee passed the bill by voice vote (SEG 636–722).
- Senate Bill 568: Removes annual renewals for long‑term care facility licenses, requires notification for management changes, and expands DHS grounds to deny applications; supporters said it prevents out‑of‑state bad actors from running facilities into the ground; committee passed by voice vote (SEG 739–827).
- House Bill 1622: Brings definitions and investigative authority for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit into alignment with federal standards; committee passed by voice vote (SEG 840–894).
- House Bill 1623: Requires notice to the Arkansas Attorney General of sealed qui tam lawsuits involving Arkansas Medicaid so the state can evaluate intervention; committee passed by voice vote (SEG 899–993).
- Senate Bill 527: Requires hospital transfer agreements for abortion providers and a human‑trafficking information card; passed after public testimony (detailed in separate story) (SEG 991–1201).
- Senate Bill 395: Separates Medicaid $500 cap into two $500 caps for laboratory and diagnostic imaging (with essential health benefit exemptions); DHS estimated a state share of roughly 30% and a conservative fiscal impact under $5 million if utilized; bill passed (SEG 1210–1377).
Most votes were recorded as voice votes with the chair announcing passage; the transcript does not include roll‑call tallies for these items. Where witnesses appeared, the committee engaged in Q&A; where no sign‑ups existed, bills were passed after sponsor explanations and motions to pass.
Actions recorded in committee (selected):
- action-sb341-amend-adopted — Adopt amendments to SB341 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 003–038). - action-sb572-passed — Do pass recommendation for SB572 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 623–634). - action-hb1659-passed — Do pass for HB1659 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 636–722). - action-sb568-passed — Do pass for SB568 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 822–827). - action-hb1622-passed — Do pass for HB1622 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 881–893). - action-hb1623-passed — Do pass for HB1623 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 985–993). - action-sb527-passed — Do pass for SB527 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 1194–1201). - action-sb395-passed — Do pass for SB395 — outcome: approved (voice vote) (SEG 1261–1376).
The committee adjourned at the end of the session.
