Signed by Governor Mike Beebe

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2014-2015.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services to submit and seek approval for a state plan amendment or waiver from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the following revisions to the Health Care Independence Program (Sec. 17):
• The inclusion of a program that establishes independence medical or health savings accounts for non-aged and non-disabled individuals;
• The inclusion of a cost sharing program that applies to beneficiaries with incomes above 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Level; and
• The inclusion of a limited state-designed nonemergency transportation benefit for covered individuals.

• Prohibits the Department of Human Services from allocating, budgeting, expending, or utilizing any appropriations from the General Assembly for the purposes of encouraging enrollment in the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace or the Health Care Independence Program (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2014-2015.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services to submit and seek approval for a state plan amendment or waiver from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the following revisions to the Health Care Independence Program (Sec. 17):
• The inclusion of a program that establishes independence medical or health savings accounts for non-aged and non-disabled individuals;
• The inclusion of a cost sharing program that applies to beneficiaries with incomes above 50 percent of the Federal Poverty Level; and
• The inclusion of a limited state-designed nonemergency transportation benefit for covered individuals.

• Prohibits the Department of Human Services from allocating, budgeting, expending, or utilizing any appropriations from the General Assembly for the purposes of encouraging enrollment in the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace or the Health Care Independence Program (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text