TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO EVALUATE CLAIMS FOR DIAGNOSES FREQUENCY OF OBESITY-RELATED CONDITIONS AND PRESENT THE COSTS.

House Bill 1332 requires the Arkansas Department of Human Services to evaluate claims data for the frequency and cost of various obesity-related conditions within the state's Medicaid program. The department must document year-over-year trends for these conditions and present this information to legislative committees. Additionally, the bill allows private health benefit plans offered in Arkansas to provide policyholders the option to purchase coverage for United States Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-obesity medications. These plans may adopt specific standards for eligibility for this optional coverage.