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Bill Summary · HB 1403

Summary of House Bill 1403

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: HB 1403
  • Title: To Amend the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 to Allow Nonhospital Entities to be Community Bridge Organizations
  • Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment
  • Introduced: February 04, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1403 aimed to amend the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 by expanding the definition of community bridge organizations to include nonhospital entities. The intent was to enhance the capacity of these organizations to address health-related social needs, particularly in rural areas, thereby promoting better health outcomes for mothers and infants.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several amendments to existing Arkansas Code, specifically:

  1. Amendment to Legislative Intent:

    • Section 1: Revised the intent to promote the health and welfare of mothers and infants through both hospital-based and nonhospital community bridge organizations.
    • Section 2: Expanded the focus on addressing health-related social needs in rural counties to include nonhospital entities.

  2. Community Bridge Organization Administration:

    • Section 3: Allowed community bridge organizations to be administered by both hospitals and nonhospital entities, subject to criteria set by the Department of Human Services.

  3. Eligibility Criteria for Nonhospital Entities:

    • Section 4: Established that nonhospital entities could serve eligible individuals if they met additional criteria defined by the Department of Human Services.

Impact

The proposed changes in HB 1403 would have had a significant impact on the healthcare landscape in Arkansas by:
- Increasing Access: Allowing nonhospital entities to serve as community bridge organizations could have increased access to healthcare services, particularly in underserved rural areas.
- Enhancing Services: By broadening the types of organizations that could participate, the bill aimed to enhance the range of services available to mothers and infants, potentially improving health outcomes.
- Addressing Social Determinants of Health: The bill sought to tackle health-related social needs, which are critical for reducing health disparities in rural populations.

Legislative Timeline

  • February 04, 2025: Bill filed and read for the first time; rules suspended for further readings.
  • February 25, 2025: Returned by the House Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.
  • February 26, 2025: Read the third time in the House, passed, and transmitted to the Senate.
  • February 26, 2025: Received in the Senate and referred to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.
  • May 05, 2025: Bill died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1403 aimed to enhance healthcare delivery through the inclusion of nonhospital entities as community bridge organizations, it ultimately did not progress past the Senate Committee stage. The bill's intent to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Arkansas remains a relevant topic for future legislative discussions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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