HB1096
An Act For The Department Of Human Services - Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program Appropriation For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services' Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. It establishes specific regular employee positions and their salary limits within the Division of Medical Services and the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services. The bill appropriates funds from the Medicaid Expansion Program Account for personal services, operating expenses, and grants, including hospital and medical services and prescription drugs. It also includes special language regarding the administration of these funds, including employee disclosures about the reliance on tobacco settlement funds and restrictions on fund transfers. The act declares an emergency to ensure its effectiveness by July 1, 2025, for the proper administration of governmental programs.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be the recipients of Medicaid services in Arkansas, specifically those who would receive hospital and medical services and prescription drugs funded through the Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program. Additionally, the Department of Human Services, including its Division of Medical Services and Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, would benefit from the allocated funds for personnel, operations, and program grants. Employees within these divisions, particularly those in the newly established or continued positions, would also be direct beneficiaries.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill does not directly identify specific groups that would be negatively impacted. However, potential indirect impacts could be felt by taxpayers if the tobacco settlement funds prove insufficient and require state general revenue to cover the appropriated amounts, although Section 7 explicitly states state funds will not be used to replace expiring tobacco settlement funds unless appropriated. Employees in positions paid from tobacco settlement funds might be negatively impacted if these funds become insufficient, as outlined in Section 7, which warns of no state commitment to continue funding such positions. Providers of hospital, medical, and prescription drug services might experience fluctuations in payments depending on the actual availability and management of the tobacco settlement funds.