AR HB1857

Arkansas State Medical Board shall not require specialty medical board recertification or maintenance of certification to be licensed to practice medicine in the state.

Healthcare facilities licensed by the Department of Health cannot deny physician hospital staff, admitting privileges, or employment solely based on absence of maintenance of certification, except facilities may still require remedial or corrective courses as determined by quality improvement committees.

Insurers are prohibited from denying reimbursement or preventing physicians from participating in provider networks based solely on a physician's decision not to participate in maintenance of certification.

Insurers cannot discriminate in reimbursement levels based solely on a physician's decision not to participate in maintenance of certification.

"Maintenance of certification" is defined as any process requiring periodic recertification examinations or other activities to maintain specialty medical certification beyond basic Arkansas State Medical Board requirements.