Senator delays SB602 amid work on amendments to speed craniofacial claims and allow out-of-state care

Senator Ervin asked the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee to take SB602 up on Thursday after distributing an amendment intended to address slow claim payments for families with craniofacial conditions.

Booth Rand of the Arkansas Insurance Department summarized the amendment’s goals: to require faster claim adjudication for craniofacial services (two working days for nonurgent reviews and 24 hours for urgent cases), to permit families to seek craniofacial services out of state when necessary, and to limit the change to health insurance plans (excluding dental and vision). Rand described some of the language as "cleanup, and corrections" and said the department was working with insurers and other entities to finalize the amendment.

Senator Ervin said he preferred to ensure the amendment is in staff files and to work with stakeholders before formally presenting the bill; the committee agreed to move SB602 to the Thursday schedule so members and staff could review the amendment. The transcript shows the committee planned to revisit the bill and the amendment on Thursday; no formal vote on the bill or amendment occurred in the recorded session.