HB1261 Summary

• Allows licensed ambulance services to triage, treat, and transport patients to alternative destinations (such as urgent care centers, federally qualified health centers, physician offices, or behavioral health facilities) when coordinating care through telemedicine with a physician or behavioral health specialist.

• Prohibits transporting patients to hospitals, critical access hospitals, dialysis centers, private residences, or skilled nursing facilities as alternative destinations.

• Requires health insurers offering plans in Arkansas to provide coverage for ambulance services performing triage and transport to alternative destinations or treating patients in place, effective January 1, 2024.

• Coverage applies only to ambulance transports initiated by 911 calls and is subject to plan deductibles, copayments, and other plan provisions; does not diminish other covered benefits.

• Sets minimum reimbursement rates for ambulance services at either the rate contracted with the local government entity where the alternative destination is located or the Workers' Compensation Commission's emergency Advance Life Support Level 1 rate.