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Senate committee hears SB113 to fold Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace into Insurance Department; amendment sets March 15, 2019 effective date
Summary
The Insurance & Commerce Senate committee debated SB113 to transfer the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (AHIM) into the Arkansas Insurance Department (AID), adopted an amendment setting a March 15, 2019 effective date, heard public comment from Nate Bell asking for time to propose reforms, and then failed a committee motion to advance the bill by roll call (committee announced a 4–3 result).
Senator Jason Rapert, sponsor of SB113, told the Senate Insurance & Commerce committee that a joint oversight committee had spent roughly 18 months reviewing the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (AHIM) and unanimously recommended transferring the exchange’s functions into the Arkansas Insurance Department (AID).
Rapert said an amendment to SB113 setting a specific effective date—March 15, 2019—was adopted after consultation with the governor’s office. He also said co-chairs Richard Womack and he had requested a legislative audit of AHIM to preserve records and clarify operations ahead of the proposed transition.
Insurance Commissioner Alan Kerr presented financial estimates the department would use to absorb AHIM duties. Kerr said, “That cost, we're looking at a total of $571,500” for…
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