SB112

Senate Bill 112 amends Arkansas law to permit physician assistants (PAs) to be recognized as the treating provider for insurance billing and claims processing. If authorized by their supervising physician, PAs are granted the legal authority to file claims for medical services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and patients covered by private health benefit plans. The bill explicitly allows PAs to bill and receive direct payment for these services. Furthermore, the legislation stipulates that healthcare insurers and the Arkansas Medicaid program cannot require the physical presence of the supervising physician as a condition for the PA to bill for these services. This change aims to streamline medical billing processes and clarify the professional role of PAs in the state's healthcare reimbursement system.