HB1261

This bill enacts the 'Arkansas Triage, Treat, and Transport to Alternative Destination Act,' which authorizes ambulance services to provide alternative care options for patients instead of traditional hospital transport. Under the act, ambulance crews may treat a patient in place, or triage and transport a patient to a lower-acuity facility—such as an urgent care center, a federally qualified health center, or a behavioral health facility—provided they coordinate care via telemedicine with a qualified physician or behavioral health specialist. The legislation mandates that health benefit plans, including private insurance and Medicaid, provide coverage for these alternative services initiated by a 911 call. It also sets minimum reimbursement rates for these ambulance services based on local government contracts or Workers' Compensation schedules. The act explicitly excludes certain facilities, like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, from being classified as 'alternative destinations.' The provisions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024.