HB1103
To Create The Universal Newborn Home Nurse Visitation Program To Provide Home Visitation Services For A Newborn Infant And The Parents Of A Newborn Infant.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1103 establishes the Universal Newborn Home Nurse Visitation Program within the Arkansas Department of Health. The program's goal is to provide voluntary, evidence-based home nurse visits to new parents and their infants to support maternal and infant health outcomes. The program will offer at least one home visit within 30 days of birth, with the possibility of two additional visits during the first three months of life. It includes health and wellness checks, breastfeeding support, and information on perinatal mood disorders. The bill mandates that health benefit plans and the Arkansas Medicaid Program provide coverage for these visits, with all cost-sharing requirements such as copayments and deductibles waived. The Department of Health is authorized to contract with third-party vendors for administration and staffing. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and declining services will not result in any negative consequences for the parent or infant.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are parents of newborns and their infants residing in Arkansas, who gain access to free, professional medical and social support during the critical postpartum period. Licensed nurses and healthcare organizations contracted by the state to provide these services also benefit through employment and program funding opportunities.
Who Might Suffer?
Insurance carriers and health benefit plans will be negatively impacted by this legislation as it mandates that they provide coverage for these home visits and absorb the full cost without passing it on to the patient through copayments or deductibles. Additionally, the Arkansas Medicaid Program and the state budget may experience increased expenditures to support the administration, oversight, and coverage of this new, statewide program.
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