Ark. House Report

First of all this week, I need to apologize for missing Weevil Welcome at Monticello Tuesday night, the 15th. I have Education Committee meetings Monday – Wednesday with the Tuesday meetings lasting all day. I always enjoy Weevil Welcome and I apologize to Glenda Nichols for missing it this year. I feel duty and heart bound to attend Education meetings as I am the Co-chair. I’ll miss y’all though.Last week the highway department (AHTD) announced they would reinstate 27 projects they had previously pulled from their 2015 bidding process because of concerns over federal transportation funding. Recent federal legislation transferred $8.1 billion to the Highway Trust Fund through Oct. 29, and AHTD Director Scott Bennett said the funding will allow some of the delayed projects to be phased back into bid lettings scheduled for October, December, and possibly February 2016. However, I looked at the list of the 27 and none were listed from southeast Arkansas. I wonder the effect the proposed 10-cent per gallon tax hike had on this decision.A very important deadline is approaching that will affect our doctors, dentists, pharmacists and all other providers of medical-type services in our state. On October 1st, all providers billing Arkansas Medicaid, Medicare, and even private health insurance plans will be required to use new billing codes. The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is used to standardize codes for medical conditions and procedures. The medical codes for diagnosis and billing have not been updated in more than 35 years and contain outdated and obsolete terms. The new codes are referred to as ICD-10 and are required nationwide by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.All major hospitals in our state are fully prepared for the transition. However, we want Arkansans to be informed about this process so they can ensure that their local doctor or day treatment provider is prepared. If the new codes are not used in the billing process, Medicaid and private plans will not pay the balance due. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services continues to provide practical tools for providers. We encourage you to ask your doctor or health care professional if they have prepared for the transition. There are several resources available on line. Providers should visit www.cms.gov for more information.

While we are discussing health care news, these numbers are the latest round of terminations of private option/state marketplace insurance policies that were scheduled to be cancelled Sept 1, as reported from Arkansas Advocates.

Read Full Story