TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROG...
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SB 257 — TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND TO REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IN NOTICES OF ADVERSE DECISIONS.
Last action — Notification that SB257 is now Act 515
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 19, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican) on April 10, 2025.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
1 added · 2 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill SB 257, a specific line has been added, while a reference to an earlier act has been removed. This change could clarify the bill's intentions or update it to align with more current laws and situations. It's important because it helps ensure the bill is effective and relevant, reflecting the current needs of the community it aims to serve.
Act 515 of the Regular Session State of Arkansas As Engrossed:
Penzo APPROVED:4 03-19-2025 15:13:17 JMB310
4/10/25 4 03-19-2025 15:13:17 JMB310
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The bill extends the appeal period for providers in the Arkansas Medicaid program and requires comprehensive information in notices of adverse decisions.
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20-77-1712
no less than thirty-five (35) days from the date of notice to the provider to appeal an adverse decision→ no less than sixty-five (65) days from the date of notice to the provider to appeal an adverse decisionThis change extends the time providers have to appeal adverse decisions.
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20-77-1705
Citations to all specific protocols, procedures, or policy manual references that were relied upon in making the adverse decision.→ Citations to all specific protocols, procedures, or policy manual references that were relied upon in making the adverse decision.This amendment ensures that notices of adverse decisions include necessary citations for transparency.
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20-77-1719
The Department of Human Services shall publish and maintain all protocols, procedures, and requirements used in making adverse decisions on the website of the department.
This requires the Department to publicly disclose all relevant protocols and procedures used in decision-making.
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20-77-1719
The publication shall include: the current version of each protocol, procedure, or requirement; prior versions of each protocol, manual, or published requirement maintained in an archive for reference for a period equivalent to state law and rule regarding retention of medical records; and an effective date for each version of the protocol, manual, or published requirement to ensure providers have access to historical and current policy requirements.
This ensures providers have access to both current and past versions of policy requirements.
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20-77-1719
The department shall not use or enforce any policy, protocol, or requirement that is not publicly disclosed and accessible to providers.
This prohibits the enforcement of undisclosed policies against providers.
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20-77-1719
Any internal, undisclosed, or unpublished protocol, procedure, or requirement shall be deemed invalid for the purpose of making an adverse decision.
This invalidates any undisclosed processes when making adverse decisions.
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20-77-1712
the deadline shall not begin to run before the next business day following the date of the postmark on the envelope, the facsimile transmission confirmation sheet, or the electronic record confirmation, unless otherwise required by federal statute or regulation.→ the deadline shall not begin to run before the next business day following the date of the postmark on the envelope, the facsimile transmission confirmation sheet, or the electronic record confirmation, unless otherwise required by federal statute or regulation.This solidifies the starting point for deadlines related to provider notices.
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20-77-1702
(20) “Third-party entity” means a vendor or other similar entity contracted by the Department of Human Services to administer any part of the Medicaid appeals process.
This adds a definition for third-party entities involved in the Medicaid appeals process.
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20-77-1720
A third-party entity shall comply with the requirements in this subchapter, including appeal periods, notice requirements, and publication of protocols, procedures, and requirements.
This ensures third-party entities follow the same requirements as the Department of Human Services.
Amendments
1 amendment- Amendment H1 March 18, 2025 Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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Notification that SB257 is now Act 515
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DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
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Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
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ORDERED ENROLLED
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Read the third time and passed.
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Rules suspended.
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House Amendment No. 1 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in.
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Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.
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Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass concur in House Amendment No. 1
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Re-referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE
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Returned from the House as passed as amended # 1 .
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Returned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1
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Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
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Returned by the Committee Do Pass
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REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
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Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
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Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
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Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
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RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
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Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
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Read the third time and passed.
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Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
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Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE
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Filed
Sponsors
- Robin Lundstrum · Primary
- Clint Penzo · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (136)
136 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 136 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 257?
- SB 257 is sponsored by Robin Lundstrum and Clint Penzo.
- What is the current status of SB 257?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 19, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 257?
- Track SB 257 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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