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Committee approves bill limiting hospitals/insurers from revoking physician privileges over voluntary board certification
Summary
Senators passed SB339 with an amendment developed with hospital groups; the bill bars insurers and hospitals from revoking privileges or network access solely because a physician lacks voluntary board certification while preserving state licensure and continuing education requirements.
Senate Bill 339, with an amendment the sponsor said was written with the Arkansas Hospital Association, was presented and discussed in the committee. Sponsor and supporters said the measure aims to curb financial or administrative penalties tied to voluntary national board certification while leaving state licensing and continuing medical‑education obligations intact. "This bill is simply an attempt to prohibit insurance carriers and hospitals from arbitrarily revoking a physician's privileges at that hospital or their membership in a network simply because they did not maintain their board certification," David Bridal of the Arkansas Medical Society told the committee.
Supporters described the change as protecting physicians from losing hospital privileges or insurance-network membership for failing to maintain voluntary national board certification, a process different from state licensure. Committee members confirmed continuing medical-education requirements and state licensing would remain in force; the amendment also preserved the role of medical-staff determinations by hospitals in some contexts.
After questions and some clarifications, the committee moved the bill and recorded a voice vote indicating passage of the committee recommendation. The sponsor asked for a favorable vote and the motion carried. The bill will proceed with the amendment as adopted in committee.
