HB1164

House Bill 1164 authorizes physicians and healthcare providers in Arkansas to offer annual cognitive assessments for Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and general cognitive function to patients 60 years of age or older, or those 45 and older deemed at higher risk. The bill mandates that health benefit plans, including private insurance and state-funded programs like Medicaid, provide coverage for these annual assessments. It allows patients to decline the assessment, requiring providers to document such refusals to avoid liability. Additionally, the bill establishes confidentiality protections for data collected during these assessments, exempting them from the Freedom of Information Act. The insurance coverage mandate is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.