§ 23-79-1801. Definitions

As used in this subchapter:

1. (1)

   1. (A) “Health benefit plan” means:

      1. (i) An individual, blanket, or group plan, policy, or contract for healthcare services issued or delivered by an insurer, health maintenance organization, hospital medical service corporation, or self-insured governmental or church plan in this state; and

      2. (ii) Any health benefit program receiving state or federal appropriations from the State of Arkansas, including the Arkansas Medicaid Program, the Health Care Independence Program [expired], commonly referred to as the “Private Option”, and the Arkansas Works Program, or any successor program.

   2. (B) “Health benefit plan” includes:

      1. (i) An indemnity and managed care plan; and

      2. (ii) A nonfederal governmental plan as defined in 29 U.S.C. § 1002(32), as it existed on January 1, 2019.

   3. (C) “Health benefit plan” does not include:

      1. (i) A disability income plan;

      2. (ii) A credit insurance plan;

      3. (iii) Insurance coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance;

      4. (iv) Medical payments under an automobile or homeowner’s insurance plan;

      5. (v) A health benefit plan provided under Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 32, the Workers’ Compensation Law, § 11-9-101 et seq., or the Public Employee Workers’ Compensation Act, § 21-5-601 et seq.;

      6. (vi) A plan that provides only indemnity for hospital confinement;

      7. (vii) An accident-only plan;

      8. (viii) A specified disease plan; or

      9. (ix) A long-term-care-only plan;

2. (2) “Healthcare professional” means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by the laws of this state to administer health care in the ordinary course of the practice of his or her profession;

3. (3) “Newborn” means a child who is twenty-nine (29) days of age or younger; and

4. (4) “Spinal muscular atrophy” means a genetic disease that affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.