HB1287

House Bill 1287 amends the Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act in Arkansas by introducing a formal definition for the term 'downcode.' Downcoding is defined as the practice of a contracting entity changing a healthcare claim to a lower-cost service than what the healthcare provider originally billed. The bill mandates that any contracting entity that downcodes a claim must notify the healthcare provider of this action. This notification is required to be delivered to the provider within thirty days of the claim being processed. The primary objective is to increase transparency between healthcare providers and contracting entities regarding payment adjustments.