HB1055
To Establish Coverage Diagnosis And Treatment To Slow The Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease Or Other Dementia-related Disease Under The State And Public School Life And Health Insurance Program.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, House Bill 1055, aims to expand health insurance coverage within the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program. It mandates that health benefit plans offered or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, must include coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related diseases. The legislative findings highlight Alzheimer's as a significant cause of death in Arkansas and suggest that early diagnosis and treatment are more cost-effective than managing late-stage complications. The bill specifies that covered treatments and medications must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for slowing disease progression. It also mandates coverage for necessary diagnostic testing to determine appropriate treatment use. Furthermore, the bill states that these treatments and medications should not be subject to step therapy protocols. The State Board of Finance is empowered to create rules to implement these provisions.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be state employees and public school employees in Arkansas enrolled in the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program, along with their dependents, who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia-related diseases. This includes individuals who may benefit from early diagnosis and treatments designed to slow the progression of these conditions. Additionally, healthcare providers specializing in neurology or geriatrics, as well as pharmaceutical companies that produce FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's and dementia, could see increased demand for their services and products.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities that could be negatively impacted are the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program itself, and by extension, the taxpayers who fund it, due to the potential increase in healthcare expenditures. Insurance providers administering these plans may also face increased costs associated with covering these specific treatments and diagnostic tests. While not directly negatively impacted in terms of financial burden, individuals who may not meet the criteria for FDA-approved treatments or who have conditions not recognized by the bill's scope might not experience direct benefits.