AR SB498

Establishes new Arkansas Code § 17-95-209 allowing the Arkansas State Medical Board to provide credentialing information to clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, insurers, managed care organizations, and other health care organizations for evaluating physician assistants, radiology assistants, radiology practitioner assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and respiratory care practitioners.

Credentialing information includes application attestations, hospital privileges, malpractice coverage, drug/alcohol abuse history, education and board certification, felony convictions, disciplinary history, Medicare/Medicaid sanctions, professional liability claims, license restrictions, and work history.

Requires written authorization from practitioners before the board releases credentialing information; organizations may exclude practitioners from privileges or networks if they refuse to authorize release.

Protects credentialing information from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and shields credentialing evaluations from discovery in legal proceedings, with limited exceptions for disciplinary hearings and legal challenges to credentialing decisions.

Authorizes the board to charge credentialing organizations reasonable fees set in consultation with advisory committees, with costs capped at rates comparable to private vendors; prohibits organizations from charging practitioners for these fees.