SB257

Senate Bill 257 aims to amend the Arkansas Medicaid Fairness Act to increase transparency and extend the appeal period for healthcare providers facing adverse decisions. The bill mandates that the Department of Human Services (DHS) and its contracted third-party entities provide more detailed explanations in adverse decision notices, including specific citations to relevant policies and protocols. It extends the provider appeal window from 35 days to 65 days and establishes that notice deadlines begin on the business day following the date of transmission. Furthermore, the bill requires the DHS to publish all policies and protocols used in decision-making on their website, prohibiting the enforcement of any unpublished or internal rules. It also mandates that the DHS maintain archives of prior policy versions for reference. Finally, the bill directs the department to update its manuals and conduct annual audits to ensure compliance with these new transparency and procedural requirements.