On Thursday, April 21, SB 121 (including funding for Arkansas Works) was passed in the Senate then signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson. When signing, Governor Hutchinson executed the expected line item veto, extending the life of the program from an original end date of December 31, 2016 to…
Physicians across the state have seen first-hand the benefits of Arkansas Works/Private Option and are fighting to secure its funding. Under this program, hard-working Arkansans have been able to get the care they need, return to work faster and stay at work longer. Losing this program would create…
Article by Andy Davis, Northwest Arkansas Arkansas Democratt Gazette, 3/4/2016 In the past month, the state Department of Human Services has reduced by more than half the number of infants whose applications for Medicaid have been pending more than 45 days, a department official told state lawmakers on…
Once again, physicians stood up for their patients and profession, going 8-0 in the most recent legislative session. The Arkansas Medical Society went undefeated in the legislative session, passing all eight supported bills and defeating all 13 bills the Society opposed. AMS Legislation that became law: Prior Authorization…
Article by ANDY DAVIS, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 1, 2015 An advisory group studying Arkansas’ Medicaid program should explore alternatives that include giving up the more than $ 1 billion in federal funding the state receives annually to provide coverage to more than 200,000 low- income adults, Gov. Asa…
The proposal to end the "private option" on December 31st failed today (Jan 29) before the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. The vote was 8-10. The private option uses federal money to purchase private insurance for the poor. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has called on lawmakers…
Capitol action will be plentiful during a short week as lawmakers and Gov. Asa Hutchinson return Tuesday for the state's legislative session. Hutchinson is scheduled to release his budget for 2015-2016 early in the week, have his tax cut proposal head to a state Senate committee Wednesday and…
The collective physician voice carried a lot of weight in 2014—both in the nation’s capital and in the state legislatures. Changes that took place covered a broad range of issues, including better access to care for veterans, increased graduate medical education (GME) funding and important updates to the…
The Rules and Regulations committee will be reviewing Arkansas Insurance Department Rule 108 (Patient-Centered Medical Home Standards) AGAIN on Monday, December 22 at 10 am. By the time the rule came before the committee on December 3, there was no quorum. With opposition from a few legislators on…
The Rules and Regulations committee will be reviewing Arkansas Insurance Department Rule 108 (Patient-Centered Medical Home Standards) on Wednesday, December 3 at 9 am. Please take a moment to contact your state legislators before December 3 and ask for their support of this rule, which makes it clear…
While AMS has many friends in the legislature, we wish a special congratulations to some of our closest friends for their recent re-election to serve in the 90th Arkansas General Assembly, convening January 12, 2015: State Senator Cecile Bledsoe (Rogers), State Representative Deborah Ferguson, DDS (West Memphis), State…