[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6066735,"mediaKeyId","3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c","parentId",3155778,"title","Committee advances bill clarifying pay for 'temporary hospitals' created during COVID-19","audioSeconds",1185,"startMs",275000,"endMs",1460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c&start=275&end=1460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c/thumbnail_275000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6066735/Arkansas/Committee-advances-bill-clarifying-pay-for-temporary-hospitals-created-during-COVID-19","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066735-50e1736326dd6ab9e318e2f6245755e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437448&Signature=a~qKS0iHmUz3KZUJkhR~IGOi7whD63gUvzdVd0HAUEthL-iRvBWRu5NeF2oX2itC-65v0Wp4diQiGlIgRMWV0uJQ0VZy1EzM42zpoppq~XEVFlOnTz3DV9veL8IJToPNhoETUZVno3ZRiQiC~~Y7evevHfvPqudNH7UUp4nzCxJF9eciwdMLooV4zXLPj1wzSJtrqFtbu2dB0XZgj6UgK509OMu5xk9JPWmPii4dHgCrVnMnn2tja53aTJuKTyA4xeE5nnxk8Vehnbm8xc5KNxGPy2MaAELY0fG8Gu8B3DhUR5TK4hG2e7eptNVktVZTFC54PpxmYgVFnG7z5vfhWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arkansas State Legislature","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","The House Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 621, legislation clarifying payment obligations for facilities that were designated as temporary hospitals under the federal “Hospitals Without Walls” program during the COVID-19 emergency.

Sponsor Senator Missy Irvin said the bill responds to a gap in implementation of earlier state law and a prior executive order that allowed ambulatory surgery centers and similar facilities to convert temporarily to hospital status in emergencies. “If they're going to jump through all those hoops ... why would you participate in something that we need if you're not gonna get paid,” Irvin said, summarizing the sponsor’s concern about unpaid provider claims.

David Mans of Arkansas Blue Cross testified that roughly one to two ambulatory surgery centers in Arkansas participated and that the company had negotiated and paid some amounts but disputes remained. Mans told the committee a circuit court judge (Judge Fox, Pulaski County) ruled the facilities were entitled to hospital contracts but that the judge limited the effective contract date to July 28, 2021 and did not award retroactive pay; appeals were completed earlier this year.

Blue Cross described mediation and a court-ordered process that did not result in a full settlement and warned that retroactive payment would raise constitutional and contract issues, citing due-process and ex post facto concerns.

Senator Irvin said the bill is intended to clarify statutory language so that facilities that met federal and state designation requirements would be paid for services rendered under that temporary designation; committee members pressed for details including how many facilities were affected, where they were located, and whether Medicaid (including EBD/self-insured) had been excluded from coverage. Irvin said EBD/self-insured plans and Medicaid had been excluded earlier and that the bill’s fiscal impact did not include Medicaid.

Representative Baker moved to pass the bill; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The bill instructs insurers to recognize qualifying temporary-hospital designations and clarifies that payment is due for services provided under that designation going forward and, as discussed, may be applied retroactively to the effective date specified in state law as shaped by the courts. Sponsors said the measure is meant to align the statute with original legislative intent and the federal CMS program that authorized temporary hospital designations.

Opponents raised constitutional and contract concerns; Blue Cross cautioned retroactive awards and pointed to the Pulaski County ruling that limited effective contracts to the 07/28/2021 statutory effective date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Insurance and Commerce Committee - Apr 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Insurance & Commerce Committee approved SB 621 to clarify insurer payment responsibilities for facilities designated as temporary hospitals during COVID-19.","taxTitle","INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas","taxId",21106,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6066740,"Committee rejects bill to override federal coal-closure orders after utilities warn of costly litigation",3197,2544000,5741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c&start=2544&end=5741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c/thumbnail_2544000.jpg","/articles/6066740/Arkansas/Committee-rejects-bill-to-override-federal-coal-closure-orders-after-utilities-warn-of-costly-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066740-5c643fead76c04aeaf8cf22c555911fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437448&Signature=KJhg3X2zBLU2Q5yjXgpQxHhy1XQqZHcmwpRomL4~ZIMuNerptMpLMy5Jh9EFfC1Y2u298FIKVU7JtFsKsReypeJqyIkFu-TNEGnS7nz-i6HySSRSfy8OX~yrx2LRu0ZoAVldPJDZCJEVwLK8EWGSUXQpbEDE1RsGMsYJZp0IysBjrX1Uc7nbP~CswF0EqeubgFFUZzWM8HXMHivpIAI7HS80cx5jxFc1yS6cqn~vurBEPLc8UdY5qtRIQshCEHgFQa~MGnO6bp2fYzwE7jnVW9SsedphsLAvVy1RG2OKIr2Q5NiViMngOwjIA68E0LgcWtsXai2-WGpDNkIOIRRbLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Insurance & Commerce Committee on Monday declined to advance Senate Bill 596, a bill aimed at strengthening state control over the retirement or repowering of dispatchable electric generation.

Sponsor State Senator Matt McKee said the intent was to ensure Arkansas sets its own energy policy and preserves dispatchable, reliable power for economic development. McKee told the committee, “I think it's time that as a state, we did that.”

Utility witnesses, led by John Bethel of Entergy Arkansas, told the committee the bill would insert legal and regulatory uncertainty into long-running federal consent decrees and could produce “lengthy expensive litigation with a very low probability of success.” Bethel said the bill would require the utilities to demonstrate to the Public Service Commission that early retirements are in the public interest but noted the bill contained no carve-out for facilities already subject to federal orders.

Justin Allen, Entergy attorney, outlined three risk paths: ignore the bill and face PSC enforcement; apply to the PSC and prompt federal litigation; or seek modification of federal consent decrees—each of which he said would create delay, expense and uncertainty for replacement planning.

Kurt Casselberry, Entergy resource planner, said the company needs the current certainty provided by consent decrees (White Bluff and Independence stations) to plan replacement capacity; the consent-decree dates were identified as end of 2028 for White Bluff and end of 2030 for Independence in testimony.

Representatives of SWEPCO and other utilities raised similar concerns about the practical timing and multi-jurisdictional complications of pre-approval rules. Entergy suggested a technical amendment to exempt facilities retiring or repowering pursuant to court-ordered settlements executed before the act’s effective date.

Representative McGrew moved a do-pass motion, but committee members raised questions about litigation risk and the timing of state policy work. After debate the committee voted; the chair recorded the result as noes prevailing and the bill failed in committee.

Opponents argued the bill would threaten predictable planning and could raise costs for ratepayers; supporters said the state should set policy rather than rely on federal court outcomes.

The bill’s defeat leaves existing retirement schedules and the Public Service Commission’s role untouched; sponsors said they will continue energy-policy work through other channels and the interim.","Lawmakers debated a measure to require state-level approval for retirement or repowering of dispatchable generation. Utilities and Entergy warned the bill would trigger prolonged litigation tied to existing federal consent decrees; the committee voted the bill down.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6066745,"House committee approves statewide wind-energy rules after heated debate",3784,6154000,9938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c&start=6154&end=9938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c/thumbnail_6154000.jpg","/articles/6066745/Arkansas/House-committee-approves-statewide-wind-energy-rules-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066745-9c5b0f643c3e6728ab693c26bee1429e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437448&Signature=AGq~muSE~72KbQRvxF5bAea0yh~kgqzt7cL3NEmOnwaKpFni4ZKSorbppMjlW5RT8B4mbfyFKChxKXRY5132v8Z48OtfeJ0tQs46~t4BAAiSQ-qd8IYMZre5E09cepEm-Y9xFSPMPJL-qnT4cMaH8P22w9IqoUoAPXyN7XL1iHB70dOuChByUnkZ~9SaiK38lff5cxV35VhqKOEa24DLzShGA58SuJRh7hS2EWHSiHTtXxeLyKvnZVFkbdCBesznlRlIBKQEwds-wNOsqD~Ru1sXAMXUumnGDaLs~Ig5XkMNZqWECwII2eRjS2BdL7atWxPH4ZJRBn0S0Es-5Pk7KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Insurance & Commerce Committee on Monday approved Senate Bill 437, a measure that places statewide permitting, setback and other regulatory requirements on utility-scale wind projects.

Proponents said the bill creates a temporary regulatory framework while lawmakers study wind development over the interim; opponents called it an effective ban that would chill private landowner contracts and economic investment.

“I'm here to offer an alternative solution to this complex issue,” Representative Jeremy Wooldridge told the committee, urging a study that includes all stakeholders. Crop-dusting pilots and agriculture applicators testified at length about hazards they say turbines and meteorological towers present to low-altitude, precision aerial spraying.

Matt Willard, owner of Willard Flying Service, said turbines and small meteorological towers make applications “almost impossible for treatments,” and warned of safety risks and crop damage downwind from turbines. “The unregulated construction of wind turbines will only make this worse,” Willard said.

Developers and timber companies pushed back. Simon Mahan of the Southern Renewable Energy Association said SB 437 would amount to “an effective ban on wind energy,” and asked to be included in any interim process. Jackson Bridal of Weyerhaeuser warned the bill would “limit our ability to have a wind project to 0 acres” on the company’s holdings if the measure remained as written.

Sponsors and several members said the bill is intended to slow unchecked development so an interim study can produce a long-term, balanced regulatory approach. Representative Brad Hall, a sponsor, said the intent is to “get ahead” of development and that rules can be relaxed later if the interim work shows changes are appropriate.

The committee heard technical testimony on aviation regulations, Federal Aviation Administration review of turbine lighting and marking, and county-level permitting already used in some projects. Testimony also flagged economic and environmental tradeoffs, including local property-leasing revenue and timber/forest land use.

After discussion, the committee approved SB 437 by voice vote. The motion to do pass was made on the floor by Representative Eric Richardson; the chair recorded the result as a voice vote with the ayes prevailing.

Supporters said the bill provides minimum statewide rules and an opportunity for an interim study; opponents said the measure goes too far in restricting private landowner choices and could deter investment in rural Arkansas.

The bill now moves to the House floor. Sponsors and several witnesses urged stakeholders — developers, ag applicators, timber owners and local officials — to work together during the interim to refine any permanent rules.","The House Insurance & Commerce Committee approved Senate Bill 437 to impose statewide permitting and siting standards for utility-scale wind projects while sponsors and opponents agreed to study the issue during the interim. The bill passed on a voice vote after hours of testimony from crop-dusting pilots, timber and renewable-energy groups.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6066726,"Panel backs bill letting pharmacies pursue private recovery from PBMs",86,2420000,2506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c&start=2420&end=2506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c/thumbnail_2420000.jpg","/articles/6066726/Arkansas/Panel-backs-bill-letting-pharmacies-pursue-private-recovery-from-PBMs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066726-a2b2b17393265f2708929d937a2ec399/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437448&Signature=czEmXmAkb30QagRoIXw5fITaNrCT8FTv95xF2KDWJl9fElHpAlBq73nukBQQDRXDANpmwbahiITizo0ERpCwlhxT6v0yknIX-vUBrp-zVoSk6ulIBWPlOHYqya9aHtzuyL3psONWXw-YyoQj92Pw38t07q3Kkj5rNc49W6TWrK0KIfBq1fitTirdmpgVEPBhFkvMNCQ4IbBuA88~yn8p-TiQg10T9hgNtEkHf3yZtkZQGvfxQrInQgs6EmBH4Fr-AMrqHJURVQ2oOVxTMZtraQnrFDrXWMNLviy65Jh~Em3noXSvynI23aag0k5nA8Rw46VS8qwrZbd~WO1IDo4cPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The insurance committee voted to pass Senate Bill 583, a measure that creates a private right of action for pharmacies seeking recovery when pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) violate state requirements.

Representative Jeremiah Moore and State Representative Clark Tucker told the committee the Arkansas Insurance Department can fine PBMs but those penalties go to the state treasury and do not compensate pharmacies for time, effort and other losses. “The pharmacies need to be able to recover for their own losses suffered as a result of PBMs breaking the law,” Moore said.

There was no public opposition during the committee hearing. Sponsors described the bill as a targeted remedy to let pharmacies pursue civil damages in addition to administrative fines.

Representative Latham moved to pass the bill; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Supporters said the bill is intended as a private civil remedy that supplements, but does not replace, administrative enforcement by the Insurance Department.","Senate Bill 583, creating a private right of action for pharmacies against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that break the law, passed committee after sponsors said enforcement fines collected by the Insurance Department do not compensate pharmacies for losses.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6066730,"Committee clears bill to cut or consolidate insurance department reports",169,41000,210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c&start=41&end=210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155778-f15cd8f47eb5420f029bb33921462d3c/thumbnail_41000.jpg","/articles/6066730/Arkansas/Committee-clears-bill-to-cut-or-consolidate-insurance-department-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066730-887daa1c4a72ca4789a0b011a300a916/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437448&Signature=jAX9NrqOVI1ndTr3daoZMIOQqVJTw~Bvv9yumgsDY-XPEz76CDcLy~aKDHr~epSwh82zs1zb0lqPI7pQ3ysd1Xw4ai-77dMUeAHdwYpBA65trX-vDJI12Io4S04dLs6gcvlhPykamwgdEYhaFWeuiF5N5-mJmlTVrf6cDtuoaWWWu6h5jKn813oZa~q65tkHLj94F9dIDX3U3sh9l~uzkvA91hw5l-q~Z6sfM31aHe0x5ys0NRg7ea70jN~RrfKhh6RTjuAutwqgTzZXRlPMDxwfqyTUXTv9qZ-WGfiB-~lFb3Vc5TPRR2HRPFB~QAYgkgHBB03Jgl4VOTtNk42oEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Insurance & Commerce Committee approved Senate Bill 483, a measure to consolidate or eliminate several statutorily required reports produced by the Arkansas Insurance Department.

Senator Missy Irvin introduced the bill on behalf of the Senate Insurance & Commerce leadership and said the measure is an \"efficiency bill\" recommended by the Insurance Department to drop outdated reports or move them to an annual compilation that is more useful to legislators and the governor’s office.

Insurance Commissioner Alan McLean and department counsel Crystal Phelps testified in support, describing the department’s review and saying some reports were not widely used and duplicated data that already appears in annual publications. “We were just gonna roll into that particular report. So nothing particularly controversial about any of it, I don't think. Happy to answer any questions,” McLean told the committee.

With no opposing testimony, Representative Wood moved to pass the bill. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Supporters called the bill a housekeeping effort that reduces staff time and legislative clutter; the Insurance Department will advise the legislature on which reports will be consolidated or retained.","Senate Bill 483, sponsored for the Insurance & Commerce Committee chair, passed after department testimony supporting consolidation or elimination of some statutorily required reports to improve efficiency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill clarifying pay for 'temporary hospitals' created during COVID-19

Committee rejects bill to override federal coal-closure orders after utilities warn of costly litigation

House committee approves statewide wind-energy rules after heated debate

Panel backs bill letting pharmacies pursue private recovery from PBMs

Committee clears bill to cut or consolidate insurance department reports