|
On February 21, 2025, a bill was filed in the 95th General Assembly that will have negative consequences for hospice care in Arkansas. If passed, SB269 would allow hospice agencies licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health to expand geographic service areas if the hospice agency has a primary or branch office located within 100 miles of the location of the services. HPCAA OPPOSES SB269! SB269 Raises Quality of Care Concerns and Challenges - Currently, hospices in Arkansas have higher quality ratings than the national average. Rapid expansion can compromise care quality, as hospices struggle to provide adequate staffing and maintain their commitment to excellence across broader geographic areas. SB269 Jeopardizes Access to Hospice Care in Rural Areas - While SB269 was filed under the premise of increasing access to care, it will actually have the opposite effect. It is likely that hospices will migrate away from hard-to-serve rural areas and leapfrog to more lucrative urban markets. SB269 is in Direct Conflict with the Permit of Approval (POA) Process for Hospice in Arkansas - The POA system was designed to ensure the appropriate distribution of hospice services throughout the state, including both rural and urban areas, so all Arkansans have access to high-quality, sustainable hospice care. SB269 Undermines Regulatory Oversight of Hospices in Arkansas and Increases the Potential for Fraud, Waste and Abuse - SB269 will create competing regulations to the POA process, which will introduce confusion and inconsistencies in the hospice oversight and approval processes. The coexistence of conflicting laws will complicate enforcement and regulatory oversight, potentially leading to legal challenges and operational inefficiencies. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Immediate Call-to-Action: Thank you for your advocacy for hospice care in Arkansas!
|