AR HB1703

Healthcare providers gain the right to appeal when drug reimbursements fall below their acquisition cost, with contracting entities required to provide dedicated phone, email, and website channels for submitting appeals

Contracting entities must respond to appeals within 30 business days; if upheld, reimbursement must be adjusted to at least 110% of the provider's drug acquisition cost

Upheld appeals trigger reprocessing of the original claim and all subsequent claims for the same drug at the new rate, identified by National Drug Code or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System

Appeals initiated before the last month of a fiscal quarter lock in the new rate through quarter-end; appeals in the final month extend the rate through the following quarter

Providers may submit quarterly notices listing all drugs reimbursed below acquisition cost, allowing contracting entities to voluntarily adjust rates to 110% without formal appeals