HB1809 Summary

• Amends the definition of "child health management services" to focus on children with significant medical conditions or multiple/complex medical conditions rather than developmental delays.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to revise eligibility criteria, staffing ratios, and staff credentials for both child health management services and developmental day treatment clinic services programs by July 1, 2017.

• Mandates annual evaluations of children for each type of service billed to ensure Arkansas Medicaid does not pay for services no longer needed.

• Clarifies distinctions between the two programs by requiring providers serving primarily developmental disability populations to meet developmental day treatment standards, and providers serving primarily medically complex populations to meet child health management standards.

• Repeals the predecessor statute requiring exploration of merging the two programs and declares an emergency effective immediately upon Governor approval to prevent service overutilization and ensure proper referrals.