HB1320

House Bill 1320 amends the Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention Protocol Act of 2017 and related statutes in Arkansas to increase the integration and regulation of crisis stabilization units. It classifies these units as healthcare providers under the Patient Protection Act of 1995 and 'any willing provider' laws. The bill prohibits health benefit plans from applying behavioral or medical management utilization controls on crisis stabilization units unless those controls align with Medicaid standards or are specifically authorized by the Insurance Commissioner. Furthermore, the bill restricts health insurers from requiring prior authorization or precertification for services provided by these units, unless otherwise permitted by the Insurance Commissioner. It also mandates that any rules created by the Department of Human Services regarding access to these units must be adopted in coordination with the Insurance Commissioner.