Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of ArkansasAs Engrossed: H2/3/25 H3/12/25 H3/13/25 H3/20/25 S4/2/25
2 95th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1333
4
5 By: Representatives Hudson, D. Garner, Bentley, A. Brown, K. Brown, Cavenaugh, Ennett, Gonzales
6 Worthen, J. Mayberry, McCullough, T. Shephard, Springer, Clowney
7 By: Senators J. Scott, Irvin
8
9 For An Act To Be Entitled
10 AN ACT TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING AND
11 LACTATION CONSULTANT SERVICES; AND FOR OTHER
12 PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING
17 AND LACTATION CONSULTANT SERVICES.
18
19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
20
21 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 79, is amended to add an
22 additional subchapter to read as follows:
23
24 Subchapter 29 -- Coverage for Breastfeeding and Lactation Consultants
25
26 23-79-2901. Definitions.
27 As used in this subchapter:
28 (1)(A) "Breastfeeding and lactation consultant" means:
29 (i) An International Board Certified Lactation
30 Consultant; and
31 (ii)(a) A certified lactation counselor.
32 (b) The individuals listed under subdivision
33 (1)(A)(ii)(a) of this section are required to be supervised by a contracted
34 and in-network healthcare provider to receive reimbursement.
35 (B) The Arkansas Medicaid Program shall reimburse the
36 individuals listed under subdivision (1)(A) of this section for breastfeeding
*ANS177* 04-02-2025 10:56:41 ANS177
As Engrossed: H2/3/25 H3/12/25 H3/13/25 H3/20/25 S4/2/25 HB1333
1 and lactation consulting services if the individuals:
2 (i) Have a Medicaid number; or
3 (ii) Are otherwise compliant with all requirements
4 for reimbursement under the Arkansas Medicaid Program; (2)
5 "Breastfeeding and lactation consultant services" means medically appropriate
6 outpatient services or hospital services, or both, provided by a
7 breastfeeding and lactation consultant during pregnancy and through the
8 extended postpartum period to aid in milk expression or infant nutrition;
9 (3)(A) "Enrollee" means an individual entitled to coverage of
10 healthcare services from a healthcare insurer.
11 (B) "Enrollee" includes a minor child;
12 (4)(A) "Health benefit plan" means:
13 (i) An individual, blanket, or group plan or a
14 policy or contract for healthcare services offered, issued, renewed,
15 delivered, or extended in this state by a healthcare insurer; and
16 (ii) A health benefit program receiving state or
17 federal appropriations from the State of Arkansas, including the Arkansas
18 Medicaid Program, ARKids First-A or First-B, and the Arkansas Health and
19 Opportunity for Me Program established by the Arkansas Health and Opportunity
20 for Me Act of 2021, � 23-61-1001 et seq.
21 (B) "Health benefit plan" includes:
22 (i) Indemnity and managed care plans; and
23 (ii) Plans providing health benefits to state and
24 public school employees under � 21-5-401 et seq.
25 (C) "Health benefit plan" does not include:
26 (i) A plan that provides only dental benefits or eye
27 and vision care benefits;
28 (ii) A disability income plan;
29 (iii) A credit insurance plan;
30 (iv) Insurance coverage issued as a supplement to
31 liability insurance;
32 (v) A medical payment under an automobile or
33 homeowners insurance plan;
34 (vi) A health benefit plan provided under Arkansas
35 Constitution, Article 5, � 32, the Workers' Compensation Law, � 11-9-101 et
36 seq., or the Public Employee Workers' Compensation Act, � 21-5-601 et seq.;
2 04-02-2025 10:56:41 ANS177
As Engrossed: H2/3/25 H3/12/25 H3/13/25 H3/20/25 S4/2/25 HB1333
1 (vii) A plan that provides only indemnity for
2 hospital confinement;
3 (viii) An accident-only plan;
4 (ix) A specified disease plan; or
5 (x) A long-term-care-only plan; and
6 (5)(A) "Healthcare insurer" means an entity subject to the
7 insurance laws of this state or the jurisdiction of the Insurance
8 Commissioner that contracts or offers to contract to provide health insurance
9 coverage, including without limitation an insurance company, a hospital and
10 medical service corporation, a health maintenance organization, a self-
11 insured governmental or church plan in this state, the Arkansas Medicaid
12 Program, or a nonprofit agricultural membership organization as defined in �
13 23-60-104.
14 (B) "Healthcare insurer" does not include an entity that
15 provides only dental benefits or eye and vision care benefits.
16
17 23-79-2902. Coverage for breastfeeding and lactation consultant
18 services.
19 (a) On and after January 1, 2026, a health benefit plan that is
20 offered, issued, renewed, delivered, or extended in this state shall provide
21 coverage for breastfeeding and lactation consultant services in an outpatient
22 setting to an enrollee.
23 (b) The coverage for breastfeeding and lactation consultant services
24 under subsection (a) of this section:
25 (1) Is not subject to an annual deductible, copayment, or
26 coinsurance limit as established for other covered benefits under a health
27 benefit plan; and
28 (2) Does not diminish or limit benefits otherwise allowable
29 under a health benefit plan.
30
31 23-79-2903. Rules.
32 (a) The Insurance Commissioner may develop and promulgate rules for
33 the implementation and administration of this subchapter.
34 (b) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services may develop and
35 promulgate rules for the implementation and administration of this subchapter
36 that may apply to the Arkansas Medicaid Program or the Arkansas Health and
3 04-02-2025 10:56:41 ANS177
As Engrossed: H2/3/25 H3/12/25 H3/13/25 H3/20/25 S4/2/25 HB1333
1 Opportunity for Me Program established by the Arkansas Health and Opportunity
2 for Me Act of 2021, � 23-61-1001 et seq.
3 (c) The State Board of Finance may develop and promulgate rules for
4 the administration of this subchapter for the plans providing health benefits
5 to state and public school employees under � 21-5-401 et seq.
6
7 /s/Hudson
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
4 04-02-2025 10:56:41 ANS177Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.