Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 23 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND REGULATED INDUSTRIES (§§ 23-1-101 — 23-119-105) › Subtitle 3 - INSURANCE (§§ 23-60-101 — 23-103-417) › Chapter 61 - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT (§§ 23-61-101 — 23-61-1111) › Subchapter 10 - ARKANSAS HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ME ACT OF 2021 (§§ 23-61-1001 — 23-61-1012) › Section 23-61-1010 - Community bridge organizations

(a)
The Department of Human Services shall develop requirements and qualifications for community bridge organizations to provide assistance to one (1) or more of the following target populations:
(1)
Individuals who become pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy and the child, throughout the pregnancy and up to twenty-four (24) months after birth;
(2)
Individuals in rural areas of the state in need of treatment for serious mental illness or substance use disorder;
(3)
Individuals who are young adults most at risk of poor health due to long-term poverty and who meet criteria established by the Department of Human Services, including without limitation the following:
(A)
An individual between nineteen (19) and twenty-four (24) years of age who has been previously placed under the supervision of the:
(i)
Division of Youth Services; or
(ii)
Department of Corrections;
(B)
An individual between nineteen (19) and twenty-seven (27) years of age who has been previously placed under the supervision of the Division of Children and Family Services; or
(C)
An individual between nineteen (19) and thirty (30) years of age who is a veteran; and
(4)
Any other target populations identified by the Department of Human Services.
(b)
(1)
Each community bridge organization shall be administered by a hospital under conditions established by the Department of Human Services.
(2)
A hospital is eligible to serve eligible individuals under subdivision (a)(1) of this section if the hospital:
(A)
Is a birthing hospital;
(B)
Provides or contracts with a qualified entity for the provision of a federally recognized evidence-based home visitation model to a woman during pregnancy and to the woman and child for a period of up to twenty-four (24) months after birth; and
(C)
Meets any additional criteria established by the Department of Human Services.
(3)
(A)
A hospital is eligible to serve eligible individuals under subdivision (a)(2) of this section if the hospital:
(i)
Is a small rural hospital;
(ii)
Screens all Arkansans who seek services at the hospital for health-related social needs;
(iii)
Refers Arkansans identified as having health-related social needs for social services available in the community;
(iv)
Employs local qualified staff to assist eligible individuals in need of treatment for serious mental illness or substance use disorder in accessing medical treatment from healthcare professionals and supports to meet health-related social needs;
(v)
Enrolls with the Arkansas Medicaid Program as an acute crisis unit provider; and
(vi)
Meets any additional criteria established by the Department of Human Services.
(B)
The hospital may use funding available through the Department of Human Services to improve the hospital's ability to deliver care through coordination with other healthcare professionals and with the local emergency response system that may include training of personnel and improvements in equipment to support the delivery of medical services through telemedicine.
(4)
A hospital is eligible to serve eligible individuals under subdivision (a)(3) of this section if the hospital:
(A)
Is an acute care hospital;
(B)
Administers or contracts for the administration of programs using proven models, as defined by the Department of Human Services, to provide employment, training, education, or other social supports; and
(C)
Meets any additional criteria established by the Department of Human Services.
(c)
An individual is not required or entitled to enroll in a community bridge organization as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.
(d)
A hospital is not:
(1)
Required to apply to become a community bridge organization; or
(2)
Entitled to be selected as a community bridge organization.
Added by Act 2021, No. 530,§ 1, eff. on and after January 1, 2022.