An act TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FROM LICENSURE AS A 10 HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICE TO AN ENTITY THAT SOLELY 11 PROVIDES THERAPY SERVICES THAT ARE NOT REIMBURSED BY 12 MEDICARE PART A, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas                        A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          HOUSE BILL 1585

4

5 By: Representative L. Johnson

6 By: Senator K. Hammer

7

8                                For An Act To Be Entitled

9        AN ACT TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FROM LICENSURE AS A

10       HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICE TO AN ENTITY THAT SOLELY

11       PROVIDES THERAPY SERVICES THAT ARE NOT REIMBURSED BY

12       MEDICARE PART A; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

13

14

15                                         Subtitle

16                       TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FROM LICENSURE

17                       AS A HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICE TO AN

18                       ENTITY THAT SOLELY PROVIDES THERAPY

19                       SERVICES THAT ARE NOT REIMBURSED BY

20                       MEDICARE PART A.

21

22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

23

24       SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 20-10-802 is amended to read as follows:

25       20-10-802. Exceptions from licensing requirements.

26       The following persons are not required to be licensed under � 20-10-

27 807:

28       (1) A physician, dentist, registered nurse, or physical

29 therapist who is currently licensed under the laws of this state who provides

30 home health services only to a patient as a part of his or her private office

31 practice when the services are incidental to the office practice;

32       (2) The following healthcare professionals providing home

33 healthcare services as a sole practitioner:

34                       (A) A registered nurse;

35                       (B) A licensed vocational nurse;

36                       (C) A physical therapist;

    *JMB339*                                                  02/24/2025 4:36:30 PM JMB339
                                                                            HB1585

1                (D) An occupational therapist;

2                (E) A speech therapist;

3                (F) A medical social worker; or

4                (G) Any other healthcare professional as determined by the

5 Department of Health;

6   (3) An entity that solely provides therapy services not

7 reimbursed under Medicare Part A by healthcare professionals licensed under

8 �� 17-93-101 - 17-93-312, � 17-88-101 et seq., or �� 17-100-102 - 17-100-308;

9   (4) A nonprofit registry operated by a national or state

10 professional association or society of licensed healthcare practitioners, or

11 a subdivision thereof, that operates solely as a clearinghouse to put

12 consumers in contact with licensed healthcare practitioners who will give

13 care in a patient's residence and that neither maintains the official patient

14 records nor directs patient services;

15  (4)(5) An individual whose permanent residence is in the

16 patient's residence;

17  (5)(6) An employee of a person holding a license under this

18 subchapter who provides home healthcare services only as an employee of the

19 licensed person and who receives no benefit for providing home healthcare

20 services other than wages from the employer;

21  (6)(7) A home, nursing home, convalescent home, or other

22 institution for individuals with disabilities or individuals who are elderly

23 that provides health services only to residents of the home or institution;

24  (7)(8) A person who provides one (1) health service through a

25 contract with a person licensed;

26  (8)(9) A durable medical equipment supply company;

27  (9)(10) A pharmacy or wholesale medical supply company that

28 furnishes those services that relate to drugs and supplies to persons in

29 their homes;

30  (10)(11) A hospital or other licensed healthcare facility

31 serving only inpatient residents;

32  (11)(12) A visiting nurse service or home aide service

33 constructed by and for the adherents of a religious denomination for the

34 purpose of providing services for those who depend upon spiritual means

35 through prayer alone for healing; and

36  (12)(13) Persons providing services to one (1) or more

                                          2       02/24/2025 4:36:30 PM JMB339
   HB1585

 1 individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities, as defined
 2 in � 20-48-101, under a license or certificate from the Division of
 3 Developmental Disabilities Services.
 4
 5
 6
 7
 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

3  02/24/2025 4:36:30 PM JMB339