An act TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO 10 RECOGNIZE A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AS A PRIMARY CARE 11 PROVIDER, the official text

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

1 State of Arkansas      As Engrossed: S2/25/25
2 95th General Assembly
                               A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                         SENATE BILL 100

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5 By: Senator C. Penzo

6 By: Representatives Gramlich, Springer

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8                        For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO

10  RECOGNIZE A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AS A PRIMARY CARE

11  PROVIDER; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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14                                        Subtitle

15                       TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID

16                       PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE A PHYSICIAN

17                       ASSISTANT AS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

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

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21  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 77, Subchapter 1, is

22 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:

23  20-77-154. Primary care provider for Arkansas Medicaid Program --

24 Physician assistant.

25  (a) If authorized by a physician assistant's supervising physician,

26 the Arkansas Medicaid Program shall recognize a physician assistant licensed

27 by the Arkansas State Medical Board as a primary care provider authorized to

28 carry out the following duties of a primary care case manager:

29  (1) Being recognized and serving as the initial healthcare

30 provider in the program; and

31  (2) Treating a patient within the scope of practice and

32 licensure of a physician assistant under � 17-105-107.

33  (b) The program shall reimburse a physician assistant:

34  (1) Not less than the current reimbursement rate for services

35 performed within the scope of practice and licensure of the physician

36 assistant; and

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    As Engrossed: S2/25/25                                                 SB100

1   (2) One hundred percent (100%) of the physician reimbursement

2 rate for all out-of-pocket costs incurred by the physician assistant such as

3 the costs of laboratory tests, X-rays, and any additional tests ordered or

4 conducted by the physician assistant.

5   (c) A healthcare insurance policy in which the premiums are paid

6 directly or indirectly by the program also shall recognize and reimburse a

7 physician assistant under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

8   (d) This section does not increase the scope of practice or licensure

9 of a physician assistant.

10  (e) When initially applying to the program to be recognized as a

11 primary care provider and case manager under this section, a physician

12 assistant shall provide a written authorization that is signed and dated by

13 his or her supervising physician.

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15                                    /s/C. Penzo

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