§ 23-61-1002 — Legislative intent

Notwithstanding any general or specific laws to the contrary, it is the intent of the General Assembly for the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Program to be a fiscally sustainable, cost-effective, and opportunity-driven program that: (1) Achieves comprehensive and innovative healthcare reform that reduces the rate of growth in state and federal obligations for providing healthcare coverage to low-income adults in Arkansas; (2) Reduces the maternal and infant mortality rates in the state through initiatives that promote healthy outcomes for eligible women with high-risk pregnancies; (3) Promotes the health, welfare, and stability of mothers and their infants after birth through hospital-based community bridge organizations; (4) Encourages personal responsibility for individuals to demonstrate that they value healthcare coverage and understand their roles and obligations in maintaining private insurance coverage; (5) Increases opportunities for full-time work and attainment of economic independence, especially for certain young adults, to reduce long-term poverty that is associated with additional risk for disease and premature death; (6) Addresses health-related social needs of Arkansans in rural counties through hospital-based community bridge organizations and reduces the additional risk for disease and premature death associated with living in a rural county; (7) Strengthens the financial stability of the critical access hospitals and other small, rural hospitals; and (8) Fills gaps in the continuum of care for individuals in need of services for serious mental illness and substance use disorders.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2021, No. 530,§ 1, eff. on and after January 1, 2022. Added by Act 2016EX2, No. 2,§ 1, eff. 4/8/2016. Added by Act 2016EX2, No. 1,§ 1, eff. 4/8/2016.