TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HEALTH CARE CONSUMER ACT; AND TO REQUIRE A HEALTHCARE INSURER TO MAKE CERTAIN RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS TO A PROVIDER UPON CREDENTIALING OF A PROVIDER.

HB 1288 (now Act 423) requires healthcare insurers in Arkansas to pay providers retroactively for services rendered before the provider was officially approved by the insurer. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors or clinics) who treat patients while waiting for insurer credentialing approval. The key provision mandates that insurers make these retroactive payments once a provider is finally added to their network. The law aims to prevent providers from bearing financial losses for care delivered during the credentialing delay. It amends the Arkansas Health Care Consumer Act to enforce this payment requirement.