§ 23-99-503 — Definitions

As used in this subchapter: (1) "Carve-out arrangement" means an arrangement in which a healthcare insurer contracts with a separate person or entity to arrange for the delivery of specific types of healthcare benefits under a health benefit plan; (2) "Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner; (3) "Financial requirements" means copayments, deductibles, out-of-network charges, out-of-pocket contributions or fees, annual limits, lifetime aggregate limits imposed on individual patients, and other patient cost-sharing amounts; (4) "Health benefit plan" means any group or blanket plan, policy, or contract for healthcare services issued or delivered in this state by healthcare insurers, including indemnity and managed care plans and the plans providing health benefits to state and public school employees pursuant to § 21-5-401 et seq., but excluding plans providing health care services pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 32, the Workers' Compensation Law, § 11-9-101 et seq., and the Public Employee Workers' Compensation Act, § 21-5-601 et seq.; (5) "Healthcare insurer" means any insurance company, hospital and medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization issuing or delivering health benefit plans in this state and subject to any of the following laws: (A) The Arkansas Insurance Code; (B) Section 23-75-101 et seq., pertaining to hospital and medical service corporations; (C) Section 23-76-101 et seq., pertaining to health maintenance organizations; and (D) Any successor law of the foregoing; (6) (A) "Mental illnesses" and "substance use disorders" mean those illnesses and disorders that are covered by a health benefit plan listed in the International Classification of Diseases manual and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (B) Unless specifically otherwise stated, "mental illness" includes substance use disorders; (7) "Person" or "entity" means and includes, individually and collectively, any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, trust, association, voluntary organization, or any other form of business enterprise or legal entity; and (8) "Small employer" means any person or entity actively engaged in business who, on at least fifty percent (50%) of its working days during the preceding year, employed no more than fifty (50) eligible employees.

Legislative History

Acts 1997, No. 1020, § 3; 2009, No. 1193, §§ 3, 4.