HB1270
To Establish A Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Pilot Program Through A Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver; And To Declare An Emergency.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1270 directs the Arkansas Department of Human Services to establish a five-year Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) pilot program in three densely populated counties. The program will be funded via a Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver, providing nonresidential, specialized medical care to children under age 21 who are medically or technologically dependent. The program aims to offer an alternative to home health and private duty nursing, with the goal of reducing hospitalizations, providing caregiver support, and assessing the feasibility of a permanent statewide model. Participating children must be certified by a physician, and caregivers are required to consent and participate in training. The department is mandated to evaluate health outcomes and cost-effectiveness, submitting a final report by 2030. Due to the urgent need for expanded alternative care settings for medically complex children, the bill includes an emergency clause making it effective immediately upon passage.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include medically complex or technologically dependent children under the age of 21 who require continuous nursing or therapeutic care. Their families and primary caregivers also benefit through the provision of specialized training and potential reduction in caregiving burden. Additionally, the state healthcare system, particularly the Medicaid program, may benefit from potential cost savings and reduced hospital expenditures associated with more efficient care delivery.
Who Might Suffer?
Home health agencies and providers of private duty nursing could be negatively impacted if the pilot program shifts service delivery away from the home-based model toward center-based care. Additionally, residents of rural counties in Arkansas are excluded from the initial pilot program, as the act explicitly limits participation to three densely populated counties.
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