Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee- House & Senate

To say without objection because I don't think there's. the minutes we're gonna need a votes right building that the bill needs to have a motion and a second on the on the minute we have to have a motion thank you Norman and. Yeah so we will have to vote on that. Sorry it can be without objection yeah. Thank you can be that without objection I'm not voting when I would. Yeah. All calls. Right Something like the regular you were. Thank you Sir I don't want. Our. Is a raver. I don't want you can see them all on their one I think we're just a roll call if necessary but I don't think any of these are going to require roll call. Voting will be able to A without objection. Yeah okay so you that's true you're right thank you all monitored questions and help make sure I get to everybody's question. Paper. Still be here I guess I'll may be able to tell care that they have to do another number and. After. So how important was. Okay. Representative Ladyman seven for technical difficulties that I'm gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order and this is public health committee on public health welfare and labor committee that Colin meetings to order comments and as you all know this is our first and virtual meeting that we have holding committee meeting so appreciate everybody's and ability to get online with that say I think it's really important stats and you know government is essential and the work of the people the state of Arkansas is really important for us to have these meetings to work with our state agencies on the different roles that come before us and we've got to continue our work so that we can continue to help the citizens of the of the state so I just wanna appreciates and in particular the BLR staff four and helping to get the coordinated with us and for us I appreciate the agencies and their willingness to ADD join us me via virtually so that everybody can remain safe for that we can continue to get the business of the state sign on this meeting so and those are my comments and I'll let Representative Ladyman have comments whenever he can get online what how we're going to do this is that if you have a question you need to raise your hands on the app. and we will notice you and recognize you for questions the way the meeting is going to flow and is and any votes that we take if if there is an objection to anything that's on our agenda then we will take a roll call vote and for the members that are present on here if if it's something that there seems to be no objection on then we will proceed in that manner as customary with a how we normally to be our business the other thing I will tell you that if you I have everybody's Mike on mute at this point that if I and you everybody's microphone and you may need to meet your own microphone and said that when the time comes time for questions and answers. And I'll remind you of that as we kind of move through this meeting so and those are my comments and I'll wait for Representative Ladyman to see if he has any comments and but at this time if you will look at your minutes and review your minutes. if there any questions on those minutes. From the March ninth twenty twenty meeting. If not without objection those minutes will stand adopted and the Braves senator Irvin I'm online at okay Representative Ladyman comments from you. Thank you and chair of I just wanna make a comment here. Get some feedback this is the first the zoom meeting that we've had of a committee and we ask you all to bear with us you know we may have some glitches here but I think this will go smoothly we've done some of these calls before a for information only but but this is the first committee meeting and US senator Irvin and I had a a couple of discussions about whether we should have this meeting or not but we both felt like that you know people are going to work every day at Walmart driving trucks hospitals and the you know we felt like we needed to be here doing the state's business so we need to come to work we're getting paid and we should be doing our job so that's why we're trying to do this I think it will work well so when we get the question and answer just kind of bear with us on that but appreciate your joining us and the hopefully this will will and thanks for by being here. Thank you Representative Ladyman okay members if you will look on your agenda so items and C. E. and **** and have been removed from the agenda per the request of eighty Q. and because those rules were removed off the I mentioned that we went ahead and cancel the presentation by university of Arkansas division of agriculture and and so at that time we just felt like those things go together so with that we will need to items she part of Human Services division of medical services mark why and Janet man so I'm gonna go ahead and you so you can go ahead and start your presentation mark white. Members of I have a muted everybody so if you can meet your style before Janet and mark. Again that would be appreciated thank you go ahead. Share and we're having dispute that will difficulties for our own so we switched to a laptop and. We got to school when I was. will of our did just always here in a bill. Thank you and they later would also force these well so start with for items she. I'll close or to Janet man to give our introduction. Good afternoon thank you and so the first rule before before you all to consider today is on billing changes to global. And is it. To allow. Thank. Thank you if a. If you Sherri comes to them for services in their category changes during their pregnancy currently this is a manual process instead we are trying to get it in the system and make it easier for the providers in Arkansas and I'm happy to answer any questions if you. Are there any questions from members of the committee. Senator hammer do you have a question. Senator hammer do you have a question. Is your. These. Not muted can can you hear us. You need you need a quote for the Mike. No I don't have a question. Okay are there any questions from any of the other members on the committee If you can turn your video on when you're talking that would be helpful so at the top where it says stop video or start video that way people can see you when I switched to gallery view that would be helpful okay are there any other questions. On these rules okay without objection this rule stand the graves the next one is item H.. And you're recognized thank you thank you madam chair this rule is on and look for a surgical center manual we are updating the manual and bringing everything with the K. up to current year in addition we are removing the codes in adding a link said that when we promulgate in future years it will be only changes to methodology and things of that nature but as codes are updated and have been approved they will be updated with the link and said this is our first manual to do this in response to the twenty seventeen thank you that was house. Are there any questions. So I have a question. Is a lemon thank you so this will get you more in. Compliance or coordination with national. yes yes Sir it will it will also allow us to update more timely with the link and so we're trying to do that on a more timely basis every year these codes to get updated and then they have to be reviewed prior authorization or regular course of business and then if we can update those with the link every year prior authorization codes will still come before you for complication that the regular business heads will be updated more timely for the providers okay thank you what. Yeah this is this is a really really important thing and it's a great it's a great stat and that's just going to help the agents division of medical services and all the providers out there and. Okay are there any questions I'm looking scrolling through. So there's a question from Representative Bentley can we leave questions here for you yes Representative Bentley on that chat and you can't questions on that chat if you'd rather type them then you can put those on the chat feature and just so everyone knows the chat feature also is open to the public so any add questions there and okay you do not have anything for this role alright thank you that is a feature that you can use to answer I ask your question with this is through that method as well all right any other questions. All right seeing none this item stands reviews we'll go to next item thank you that it II thank you. Exhibit I'd department of health's. Hi you merry. Yes yes our state general counsel of the department of health and I have here we'd be Saint David have reached you pharmacy services present are controlled. Thank you for allowing me to speak with you today captions thank you. Before you as a summary of the proposed that substances to add as specifically I would draw your attention to items or five seats in the. Those are specific when substance that you add to the rest three are a store up you with these. one how does it is a. It happened. Product ads you schedule six. Are in. Draw your attention to item numbers in which is start act of war. To add the specific language to schedule six as you. That you're never be. I have a driver I have also excludes deviant if you live. All. sensor. Right on the driveway. What is it what just one moment this amendment everybody can please can you. Yes there are meet their. I work out I'll need everybody hold on so one right. You know. Walker. Okay that. Well I'll check that section. I was. Okay sorry go ahead department of health I I figured out who that was and I'm you to them. Thank. Go go back go ahead you're on item ten of the rule yes so okay is this relates to as I can have it out receive the information that it does I have been. Hi now I'm not in a that the Excluded from the list if it's the same from Dr now that all. Three tenths of one percent of yeah Dr now that all right we face is verified by land actually credited laboratory for all three axes. Not approve of United States route straight on March. H.. remaining substances on this list were language alteration. Station E. eight are we not. Or if we had. If the substance that was listed. And once for the we love AT when other sections the remaining originals in its original schedule you better classified you work you. I'm. At this time that would summarize the list of the controlled substances now we have the answer to question. Okay are there are any questions from members of the committee on line item I'm gonna review through the. I don't see a hand raised any questions occur time on the bottom. All right seeing none this item will stand a of review without objection. Item J. department of health. Thank you. Thank you. You are thank you for health facilities services you first that will help. Thank you for the day thank you for. Thank you for Class A class C.. Thank you for. Your price you'll actual here in first look here a class B. is not so five hundred year and provides for support or is this here but. I. Both types require for this sub group all. Because. House night he. All rules the secretary different services provider hi in other words will get to play the whole you're here with the section world. There are rules in how do not apply to yours is just. And this great state or you have our revised hold all rules of because we had to sure right slow here all gal I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have all the home health role. Are there any any questions on item II. I mean J. sorry brown J. any questions we go through here. Okay I do not see any questions all right thank you very much without objection this this time rule stands reviewed. I am K.. I don't private here agency ACT eleven was it ACT two thousand nineteen. Create a rule working group made up of members private here agency industry. That we're working work very hard you incorporate what needs to be changed right here will. Rules for bridge on health rules and are three years we work on revising private your rules were specific to non skilled care agency. that private here working great first name on July seventeenth refers a drop of walls that working on for about eighteen months thank chose to use that racks to forward with the will working great and we played at our meetings with them in office we presented that track whilst the Arkansas department of health I thank you. There were several items in the home I'm sorry your rules that need to be are we work harder that was replacing a plan of care with this argument she replacing practitioner would supervisor with replacing survey intervals your your work no word every three years and we placed registered nurse with a qualified supervisor we also all right in the definitions. For recipients. grapples for personal your service all private here agency and I'll be happy to answer any questions you. Okay are there any questions and just to note I think that Senator sample and Representative and so were also on that working group that correct yes yes ma'am my word so I just wanna tell them I just say thank you add to those numbers I'm not sure were there any other legislators that works with you on that. That okay so I just wanted to mention those too and just appreciate their work with you guys on this represented Ladyman yeah at I have a question okay reckons you had a public hearing on this and there were a number of questions here I mean we're all of those questions. Answered or was there any issues with the comments from the public hearing it could not be addressed. Yes Sir all public hearing all get screwed press act we had our public hearing in. Eight all I would. I'm sorry can you get closer to the microphone I'm having a member I ask if you could just get a little closer speak up a little bit louder thank you. Right sorry go ahead here now yeah just you may just have to speak up thank you I'll I'll try to speak yeah The question was the public comment we had a public comment hearing problems or Jane April second we had one person show up in her comment was that she was. Please with the rules we have several email public comments that were in support directly rules as they were read. Okay thank you. Okay are there any other questions. Okay I don't see any other questions at this time again thank you thank you to the members of the center samples and represent himself or working on that is all right and nine AM this this rover stand review. Okay exhibit L.. Hi Mr Gilmour hello how are you good thank you this state percent these or the board. Okay the. Well there somewhere. Are you ready madam chair I am let's talk first if can you put your video on. Stratford. There you are thank you. You need to admit there you go. We have multiple rules to have the changes to do. Mostly statutory changes are how briefly go through each chapter chapter one we had a clarification of professional boundaries. Help your stand exactly what those in unit. The other changes chapter one. Act two fifty of two thousand nineteen. Chapter we added the result of the act eight thirty seven of two thousand nineteen doctor recipients allow licensure. We also had an issue this section on minor is that it procedures and we have all that down due to the large number of what I mentioned we re working on that. Border we had changes to removing the word regulation and act three scene. We had a lot going to the doctors to operate a PR in which is ACT three oh eight. We made a change to have pain and I curing certifying body of any discipline action. But it's you. Actions the right. Act as a V. eight you're in Incheon war revocation. We also in and added more to the map of the doctors ACT three oh eight. we in response to act five ninety three of a curious for scribing opioids and stimulants we added this section on page four dash eight four dash nine of. Forty eight still there yes okay. I was trying to get through and see what else that we had in that okay we added also in chapter for minimum standards for establishing a patient relationship this is. Not been previously defined as we near the medical board's waiting for establishing a. What page are you on. It is page four dash. Okay if you can just reference this page or try to be helpful all right. Chapter six six four. Was read the okay act three scene record with regulation. Chapter eight eight eight dash seven. Again is that correct are moving regulation and then chapter TM which is ten dash one. We. Put it in the morning that allow the individual to enter alternative to discipline programs by ignition of abusing and misusing a substance. Ridge said they had to have a substance use disorder and this allows others that don't really have that diagnosis program but because they're using this using other. Okay. Okay are there any questions from members of the committee. Any questions. I don't see any on the child or on the list. All right. They're not questions. Okay without objection this item will stand reviewed thank you. Thank you. Okay so and we are now at the end. The start. Yes you go ahead. Your yes Sir Mr price you're recognized. Right members. We can't hear you carriers and members are very easily identifiable right and I wanted to go through the Mister price janitors house come over here because I don't think they can hear you on that line house members who are who are Christians. One second teller Christian. Senator Caldwell senator Hickey. Senator hammer. Senator Wallace. And Senator Irvin as year she's present your enemy. The representatives that are here that I can identify. Our. Wardlaw is present here in the room. Hi Representative Bentley. Representative grain. Representative Justin Gonzales is present. Representative Kenneth Ferguson it is present. Representative Justin Boyd. Representative brown. Representative call one. Representative Johnson. Representative Deborah Ferguson. And sure Ladyman is present here in the meeting Senator sample is also present on licensure sample was on there are there any other numbers. You get represented Babson Representative Dotson. You hear me Representative yes Sir present Dotson is there if if your name was not called you can I'm in and meet all right now and if your name was not call the fuel let us know. I think we got everybody. Justin Boyd Austin McCollum is it me and know that you are in the. Microphone doesn't work okay Representative McCollum is on but it from working. Okay. All right. I'm at this point in time that we that we do have we we do. I'm at this point time we do have the folks from the department of health and DHS and I believe we also have streets shoulders with division of workforce services department of commerce online on the and meeting and so we are. department of health and DHS and division of work for service the reason we wanted this is for informational purposes I didn't want to burden them with I'm requiring and uncensored presentation or anything like that but you know clearly we all know that they have been working around the clock on I'm just trying to change policies to make yet I'm where everybody's trying to respond to this pandemic an emergency at this time so I know that the department of health and no obviously we've seen a lot of that through the press conferences daily DHS has been working on a million different fronts whether it's Medicaid I'm Arkansas works enrollment snap Medicaid the passes and the different policy changes whether it whether that's regarding to telemedicine and and authorizations and there's a whole list of things that they have worked very hard on as well as just the physical and issues that they've dealing west at their work the county offices and and the beneficiaries that they're checking in on and and that's one thing out I want to talk about you is that they have a lot of people are working from home and DHS can talk about this but they have really put people on the front lines to call these recipients that are getting hi in the home care and home health care to check on them and and that's just a wonderful thing that I think are division of Human Services is doing they shared a video with me and I'll send that out to the members of the General Assembly and then of course division of workforce services with sherry shoulders and we had a report with them and at during joint budget committee I'm that the unemployment insurance you know as situation has been incredible for them to work through so at this time I'm they're gonna have they're gonna be available for. Questions I'm from members and and so if you have questions again just let me know raise your hands and I will and you use it you can ask a question or you can send it in the chat and I can read it for you. So if you have any questions at that time and now the time to answer ask any questions of the agency. By senator MALOCH I have a question okay Representative Ladyman you're recognized for a work for services I was just wondering is the web page up and running for unemployment for those people that were not normally covered like business owners and the people that were not normally covered under unemployment is that set up now or is there is date for that to be set up and going. There are men out on the call if you like for me to answer that question. Yes yes go ahead here can you hear me I can hear you go ahead thank you okay I'm on the phone and it's usually not good to have me an open Mike on the same and on the phone so I had myself needed back kept getting asked to. I'm meet myself I'd like to meet myself on the then they just talk to you on the phone if that. If that will work. You should bill meter yes I have I can meet you and and meet you so you are you are recognized to answer the question as and this the streets Childers the department of workforce services. Go ahead thank you thank you senator Irvin thank you members of the committee the question was in reference to the pandemic unemployment compensation of the or assistant P. U. at eight as I stated. Several weeks ago we were in the midst of creating that new system it is being developed we have been testing it there was some testing that occurred this weekend we have pulled it down now after the testing so that we can make some modifications to the system but it should be up and running very saying possibly in the next couple of days so I expect that the governor will make that announcement dollars on this I was watching this and so I wasn't able to watch the governor's press conference but I expected that announcement will be out tomorrow and we still we do have it set up for individuals can call the phone number on the hotline and get assistant and FOR paid get prepared for that soft opening but again the website is not up and running as of today because we're making some adjustments that we realize needed to be made during the weekend testing. Okay just for clarification the system this new system would cover people that normally are not under unemployment I don't play pay into unemployment correct. Yes Sir of this system is for those that are self employed and independent contractors. For the most part also those that were disqualified from regular unemployment are eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance. Okay thank you. Okay so do you so you don't we use that a soft opening so you don't have I mean we were told we were told several weeks ago it would be at the end of the minds. So you know that has passed so may first I guess was Friday and so do we do we have any. I DO what date is that gonna be this week can you can you give us any. Well wait it will be this week we again we are doing additional testing today I don't have the a definite date because it depends on the the results of the testing that they're doing right now I would expect that it would be tomorrow or Wednesday. Okay alright is based on the the progress that we've made this weekend. Okay are there any other questions. I have another one about that same subject okay Rosenblat in the communicating that when that is open but not available but other representatives and senators but I've got a lot of questions about that people who are contractors that call me and and they're very frustrated because they don't have in common and they don't really know what to do so those people who have tried to applying couldn't it out what is house is going to be communicated I know the governor's going to communicated on his daily call or daily a news conference but are there other means to get that communicated out to folks or is there any you have any ideas along that line. Mr elders are you still there I'm sorry I put myself on me because there was some there was the feedback earlier excuse me the information will they are sent out to the to the press for a public press conference or press release and then the governor will also make that announcement during his daily press conference. we will be have sent an email to those individuals that signed up under the. Eight you add a site at a our unemployment dot com day have received emails are most of them dead because they were part of our testing this weekend. And then the individuals that have that have signed up for regular unemployment that are not eligible for regular state unemployment will also be notified of this sale ability of P. U. A this week. Okay. Are there are there any other questions. Yes the. Representative Wardlaw hold on let me get you. Okay go ahead Representative Wardlaw. Mr hello pay work for those people that have been waiting weeks and weeks about unemployment assistance like our hairdressers and contractors and I know some of those amendment you are they just going to get it going forward or will there be impact statement those people they've been waiting. Yes there will be back payment available for those individuals we will first determine their eligibility and then on the initial eligibility paid one thirty named eligible they will receive one hundred and thirty three dollars plus they're also eligible for the six hundred dollars six hundred dollar payment as well. Then in order for them to receive more than the one hundred and thirty three dollars a minimum payment they must start uploading their information such as their twenty nineteen tax information in order to verify their income from the previous year and then it will be retroactive if you'll hold just one minute I'll get those dates for you I believe it is April fourth but I want to because I want to verify that just one minute. Thank you. Okay well she's getting that while she is getting that information are there any other questions from members of the committee and I'll remind you you can use the chat feature as well if you would like and some just looking you can raise your hands on where it says just a parent if you go to that and click on that you should be able to raise your hand if you have a question and this is. Where we right now we have division of workforce services. On the line. Or any other questions will wait for Mr elders a city can get that information to us. Thank you senator Irvin yes that was the state and I was thinking about the the he E. you say which will also going to affect this week and that is for those individuals where their benefits have expired the pandemic unemployment assistance the P. U. AG well being a four assistance up to will provide up to thirty nine weeks of benefits that any assistance period begins with the week ending February the eight and ends with the week ending December the twenty six for those that qualify the program will be retroactive back to the date that they were unemployed due to the qualifying event. And so for those individuals that that are eligible for P. USA they will audit also automatically qualify for the additional six hundred dollars a week under the federal pandemic unemployment compensation and this will apply for the period of weak ending April fourth three July twenty fifth so that was the that was April fourth date I'm sorry there are a lot of different dates and but I don't have a wall in front of me I sometimes get them confused. Okay I represent Wardlaw you good. Okay he's got all right thank all right thank you I'm going to meet you as miss Childers for right now and let's there's another question that comes your way okay if there any other questions regarding. I'm department of health. Or DHS I'm asked the H. S. to do just a quick little overview of the different things that they're working on and or have worked on I know they've gone through that with myself and Representative Ladyman I'm so if your ad on a. I went DHS just to give us a brief overview of that at this time. DHS you're recognized thanks senator get yours yes Sir thank you and we can hear you thank you are you work that out so work what do you just it was discussed. Talk about offered over. And report. The director of the bill. Sure Walker Wardlaw thank you. We've been working on several things. Thank you. Five. On. Eight. Rules you. The last. All. And in addition we are working on the long term. What. Three. Bob. We. Eight one week. This week with the following Friday we are also working on emergency thank. Total. Other eight. Thank your grade will and they will be coming before you all on your. He will any if we will. Thank you on page. In that office house bill. Okay the E. ID eight eighty. Are you providers. And. Very heavily on that in your. All of the. Eighty. We are. We your question. I'm sorry. Your. Yeah I just we just need you and so yes thank you for. Is it yeah that's much much better thank you so just I just wanted to let folks know so they're three proposals that came through DHS there three proposals and add through that cares steering committee task force those three proposals from DHS will be seeking care approval appropriation approval at the meeting on may thirteenth so said so that that's that I've had some questions from Avenue my colleagues about that appropriation authority and approval method as those have come through that cares house forced steering committee and then it would go to peer I regular peer at for action on those so just wanted a re iterate that point that go ahead and continue DH and I would just add that the long term services and support in the hospital reporting form are out on our website the additional reporting for will be going up this week the other provided by and we are accepting that is in doing the review and getting them ready ending here approval that we can be proactive and get those payments out as soon as we obtain the approval thank you so those are just for the healthcare workers that the air yes direct care rights that's not for that necessarily hospitals but direct care for the healthcare workers and could you repeat again how much has been that has been sent out to those directly to those and then how much is pending again yes and so for the long term services the support we processed in paid approximately one point seven million last Friday and we process over the weekend that will be paid the this coming Friday at another three point four million I believe is the number. About a little over five thousand employees will be impacted with those payment okay. And a little less speak on the policy. Okay hold on we've got a question for Representative Dotson certainly. Your yes go ahead Representative Dotson ET I I had a constituent contact me requesting it and I think this is related to this but exactly how this works with regards to palco that familiar yes. For the eligible for this and or if they're not why are they not I guess is not eligible because it is self directed care and they are not enrolled as Medicaid providers the long term services and support for the direct care workers in our facility and other types of long term care that are starving the patient and that'll how does not qualify under those guidelines. Thank you you're welcome. Okay one more question. Right now at this time okay go ahead DHS continue with a look at the. Yes hi Elizabeth and deputy director for the amassed and I just wanna give a very quick update of what we've done policy wise and in life the governor's executive order your last and rules and the difference EMS authority all of this can be found on our website there's a lot more detail there and I'd be happy to answer questions just a broad overview the first thing we did was relaxing telemedicine requirements it's difficult allowing positions in every age providers you use telephonic equipment provide services to patients in our home and additionally lifted the originating site requirement cost telemedicine for Medicaid to allow an individual's remain in their home and receive care this includes those providers that are out of state I in this or Texarkana that were previously I have always provided this is the Medicaid beneficiary under Medicaid policy thank you and do this and still get paid using telemedicine and we've worked with that board medical board and as well as look at the D. E. A. licensure and and requirements to make sure that I allowed it so that that has been put in place we have allowed FOR medical clinics so that you can do you have been nineteen screening and I am testing we've turned on last code in screening has allowed for hospitals and physicians and other providers offer those services. We have allowed some flexibility FOR day treatment providers providing service to those developmental disabilities including the ability to use telemedicine occupational and physical therapy and speech therapy the ability to provide nursing services in the home and we have just recently gotten agreed to do something here payment for those providers that continues as the individual and their clinic they receive an additional fifteen dollars a day and for those individuals cannot come to the clinic thank you well checks as people are used to having to these facilities five times a week every day as of this allows that provider to still check your home or using it out. We have allowed for ambulance providers to diverge and got a few other locations not just your emergency rooms they no longer have to get physician certification before doing on emergency transport. We have. Frankly he tell you more about the specifics but her Medicaid eligibility and enhance after that we cannot descend role anyone at from the Medicaid eligibility category so that means in Arkansas works in rolled it will grow as we're not able to descend role individuals in Arkansas works so we have worked with the Q. HP's and agreed to delay audit was signed it into Q. H. P. for an additional thirty days so instead of being enrolled with and not first thirty days it'll be sixty now and and thank you for service Medicaid for that additional. We have also done some provider enrollment flexibility to add prevent site we do not have to do site visits we do not have to do background checks during this time and we are allowed to roll out of state providers in Medicaid I'm a little bit more than we have in the past your hand and act. And we've done class abilities are on the independent assessment clients to allow for sound and video technology to be used to make sure that those people can continue to get out as fast during this time period. And we have put in some flexibility so that signature requirements on prescriptions and that being rights you don't have to be you don't have to sign so that we can prevent that passing round of different. And and the pharmacy things such as early refill and ally applicability ET AL so that when they are drug shortages in this state right. I think that's what we've done and I was very fast and we're happy. Okay Justin. One second. Representative Boyd. You're recognized. Thank you. Hold on. I'm trying there you go okay now you're on thank you senator Irvin I just wanted to make a point on this thanking up prescriptions in signing for it I think that's an important thing there's actually a lot of that where it was documented that someone had not been anywhere but the pharmacy is using you know compromise in wound up with over nineteen because of that and there are plenty of other ways you can audit and figure out of somebody really got a prescription rather than having a signature so I just wanna say I think that's a good thing thank you. Thank you there we work with that I'll make cheese and CMS to get that relax relaxation. Thank you yes they've they've done a ton of work are there any other questions before we moved to miss Franklin Representative Ferguson you're recognized for a question. Yeah I I guess I couldn't quite hear what was the rationale for not putting people in Arkansas works in thirty days and what do our role might numbers look like. As part of the rationale with the Q. H. B. as we will not be able to discern role until the end of the public health emergency and with our numbers correct occasionally growing and having time to choose a cry and we wanted to see. How that would happen is we wanted an extra thirty days in a for service you see if there's any record activity or anything we can days before they go into the cage eight and and what was your second question enrollment I'm sorry I will have to defer to Mary Franklin on that that. Yeah merry Franklin director of the division of county operations. I have March end of March in robot numbers total Medicaid was nine hundred twenty one thousand sixty six in Arkansas works specifically there was two hundred and fifty eight thousand one hundred and thirty and we don't have follows numbers for the end of April just yet but those will be coming soon but I would in general expect for there to be some increased because we are holding off on this role bit except for some limited reason. And I can go ahead and give you those limited reason well we will still close cases that are due to incarceration. Sure requests closure order against the beneficiary motion state would otherwise will continued. In Medicaid will continue processing eligibility and notifying them of those changes. If the income limit well let. To be eligible. The latest was read your overall in public works we are all that being said I will thank. We will probably have thank you as we've been working to get these instructions are vital all laws are. Work at one. Well right you may hear about all your. Thank you for your. Thank you for holding as we get the. We've also made of related the Medicaid bill do you have to do right now all. For all. Operation with the child support enforcement requirements during the. And we are. And he. Changes that you parking or what yeah. Public health emergency they are allowed to be in order the case of beer yeah or maybe it's. March April and may and now do you also will be certification for another state what. They have. Has also allowed us to issue emergency appointment and what that means is all active now households were not already receiving the maximum benefit they're awful. Will be they have gotten supplement. March will build it again in may that will get the maximum benefit lawful for their household. And we are also Wow that's in morally required eligibility interview. We're able to just. A lot of our application and get more information on the application and now we are not required you just open the have to come to the office that is helping our manages three one to work because we all have to. US. Right now I'm getting the information we need application and they have also approved the waiver for us to be able to accept applications all without reporting signature so that that is helpful to you and your help is what we'll have to get out of the house if they don't have a way to wrap. Yeah they have the option you know what you have the option all well it just off all her all. Okay I know that A go ahead represent the first I was just I was just wondering thank you will a mail us the April numbers when you have them get them will. Okay thank you okay I have Representative Dotson and then I have a question from senator Caldwell that he is texted me by Representative Dotson you're recognized. The the question I had you went through a list of various rule changes and things that were relaxed or Basically telemedicine in a variety of other things the public health crisis my question is. When the public health crisis ends I guess it it and that'll be whenever the governor in the state of emergency or the national emergency by the president I'm not sure exactly what the trigger is on that but She can just be automatically and I rescinded immediately or will be that there be a a delay time frame thirty days or something like that for things to go back to the way they were before. Also the way that those will stages are structured right now is not the governor to think or out to the public health emergency and once one of the worst expires those will go way that it may be that there may be in the business of these. I'll ask that you're right you're right out thank you your sixty days what. And that's what we're up to look at this the one the one figure out some way that you thanks for for if you're asked. Nothing else changes in terms of the governor's exact for and what the place right now it all in with the expiration of our. And. Sample box and it's all the provider enrollment where we relax background check in that indicated we will have I'm here you are thank you to ninety days I believe after. See you rarely enrolled Medicaid provider in completing the rest of the application site visits and background checks and things to make your files. At just be another example of how we will address. Okay so so it won't be an automatic switch off and and everybody's kind of left out limbo. And trying to they will be messaging app will. I expect the stuff you read it it is the website in other communications with these education during this time period first. Five to six weeks we did we all with different providers thank you ation you have a lot of communication and that we can use that in addition you or reading on the website in minutes ISIS eight you give the opportunity for notice to be given that the company and how we need. Thank you. Okay thank you I have a question from senator Caldwell will and you may want to talk about I think at its its will Medicaid add a billing code for additional PP required by new regulations. That is not something we have discussed thank you it will be a discussion point I'm not yet arm. Yes I am and so you might that possibly could. At the heart of they come at Kevin nineteen care come to continuity emergency response reimbursement payments you might wanna. And some of some of the PP I mean just to answer senator Caldwell that program was presented on Wednesday this last week to the act cares acts during committee I'm its emergency response reimbursement payments for PP or independent primary care physicians other independent physicians dentists independent role healthcare agency independent therapy practices independent ambulances outpatient behavioral health agency early intervention day treatment centers. An adult that development day treatment centers and so Those and and some of those are broken into small and large depending on that number clients they serve but that is a reimbursable program for those expenses that would be done actually not three Medicaid's but through that cares acts funds. So if your mail and I mean that's. That is limited to those different groups of people and you might want to talk about DHS why why that is and. How we put these in the waiver but didn't get the waiver and so we had to get to a different alternative funding source. Yes. Providers were added to that three they recently we live one fifteen record had very large category and environmental law cation using direct care payments in working through the question eight for the last we we. We. Ending at eight we basically. However they advised us to get. Aquel it what we do and that is. By doing that it was recommended with the care that she the approval to use some of that money all other things being addressed federal level in. That what we have done. Trying to look at all the different provider hi Ian how they have you services are how they will have to continue. When they have the ability to read. And and I would like to just follow up on the PP that. Something we want to address long term. Any day thank you I mark waters off before I would expect to see that there are other providers that you not have cost reports that how reimbursement based on ET. Eight eight. We will see you on a dress. I don't have any. Okay thank you it is one of the other point in look at the waters that have been chosen for these different programs we have looked at for example are these providers that may have access other regional. All right but it was. Riders others nursing does all that don't expect received any aid from. Of the eight six. One aspect all orders you the rest but we put that as well is there some fighters that are able bodied services in these problems so the bill but it just looks like the body services others where they get it all situation so the product all that bill as we. Water. Okay and then just to to follow at the the appropriation authority go before peer next week and then then how how did they apply for the these the how to those different folks apply for the reimbursable program you're gonna put that out yes. The hospital or is currently out on the website under well the fire section of the AGS website and then as we. The other non categories. Or and thank you out it it it. At all at. I'm trying to get that we find all those are working. One and if you go up this week we're not waiting. Okay so yes so whether they're E. ID team or ambulances or whatever all have their each there and separate form based on the and. Right calf in the at different cast yeah I have eight or with the drop down box you. Provider in the. Happy that we can get one or form and happens then the last. That and that this will get you a lot different I'm like body or the state level and the federal level trying to keep it is clean and and vice is possible. He. How the bill or. Thank you that are on the website also. Okay great yes so it's a reimbursable program I think it's great okay I'm any other questions. Right now I don't see any hands raised okay when I go to department of health I know that you all have been busy thank you DHS or all the work that you have done. In tremendous and we just appreciate all the work dolls really really. As I mean you've had a long long hours so we really do appreciate that and thank you add department of health if you could just kind I know you'll have been also putting an incredibly long hours that if you can give us kind of an overview on re opening and this week and what this week and next week might look like I think we've got a lot of questions and though just might be helpful if you can just give us a quick little overview about what we should be expecting and how we can best communicate those things are constituents. Thank you Matt here March you. Our health we have maybe still. Physicians group he was called away. You had. are meeting after writing that you be I would recommend her having out the obviously we at issue directive on receiving press nineteen operations and the record for barber shops body art all of your yes that was the most recent ones I believe date the large did you in or out were in that search eight eight. At worst it records were issued that day at one thirty and I'm all these can be found on our website is. The Arkansas. AS response that button. And obviously we are well that one thirty I have pressed the governor in our state vital the that helpful information for everyone on a regular basis as far as how re opening it's going to look like so we'll be able to join us out its rate medical questions that you may have you more is in charge of all of our mission providing what information to them as far as. You have N. like re up any mystery at the other the medical profession and. You know if you all have any other specific questions we can be. So I I had a question you know from one of my constituents about rodeos so I think that with the answer today as though I might be the only person I got a question about when we can go back to being in the rodeo arena but they were happy with the answer I think they got today I'm a let's see I've got a question from Representative Bentley can you tell us when nonessential surgery will be allowed I've constituents with knee replacements scheduled for the month. The directive for receiving elective procedures was issued on April twenty seventh. The city I I have to be followed in order. Or to be conducted including at receiving a task as certified that the patient negative for how did I within forty eight hours procedure. Have we meet at the still use our medical director for infectious disease you're with us you may be able to answer any other questions you have elected. So I I just wanna follow up on that so I mean are they are are you finding that that that the compliance with that forty eight hour test is working at most hospitals where elective procedures are taking place are they able to get that task are they able to get the results within forty eight hours and is that up to the individual patients as to getting not care or is that something that the and attending physician is working with them on to get that test. The individual of Kleenex hospitals for why does send does get back and we have about I think that all these people through the house and the Arkansas AT and up so you guys so I would it be said to be as a desolation without lapse that are being or white pretty for market are sold that down what you did that bill quite them the bill says that. How long do you how long do you anticipate that this testing guideline for elective procedures will last. right now it may be that one of the fuel flow as the weeks and then get out and the lights how it's going to play out AT once Speaker and allies okay but all the negatives and the help of the year in prison yes the committee of the whole this finds out and based on that I a decision of whether to continue our our call the baseball park thank you are all those things how do we do and you know because this is something you know what experiences so the bill go by work shows. Okay and so just a follow up from Representative Bentley and she says but I understand only surgery that does not require an overnight stay is allowed can you clarify that. Yes I think right now the so I believe that patient does not have does not have a stay one night. Has been allowed but later on in the future they might activation next week or week off that I they might change those by your. Okay now if if something happens I mean obviously we would love for page est yes if your surgeon you'd love to be able to go in and do your surgery get out without any complications that however we know that in the real world that doesn't necessarily always happens so if they have followed all of the necessary guidelines and procedures they get into surgery and something happens and go style and they end up having to stay overnight. As I mean is that gonna be something that Norman those are exceptions and I AT any procedure on a date with the it's a colonoscopy or endoscopy Kendall or going wrong so that complications that does all that the hospital could be you know we had a bill yeah our capacity is always in goggles and so I don't. Okay and then can you just give us a real quick right down right now we're where we are on percentage of and ventilators that are available are back capacity yeah I'm kinda where we at a workout today on those numbers. The latest numbers mind that is something the office made gives new day I end up getting lost feet as I've been pretty hectic all right being the are the are the breaks. It doesn't send jails and also nursing homes so we've heard it all weekend so I don't have those numbers that are not it's okay question. That's right as these are not concerned about it so. The excise. Okay no problem so I'll just direct people to to get on there that's not a problem and we we understand you are stretched then we understand it's been a very very difficult week four forty all I have one question Right any other questions at this time for the department of health. Or for DHS. Four four division of workforce services. I do have a. Insurance company I'm do you have any information on how our insurance are all insurance companies are they paying for task of a symptomatic people or is it just through a doctor's order how is that happening on. They may not answer that question. Department of health or DHS. Department. I don't think that should be any any problem that the insurance companies the embarrassing guy that that from what I've learned that almost all insurance companies are any of these does but there might be bodies in Vermont eight out of it is being collected I believe that escape but also I I brought the also that also by getting it off the road. That That brought fee like it are at last sample yet the. Yeah yes yes so they get a job be but that's that's it okay and and and I know that a lease quest this providing as testing kit at at no charge and from my understanding at least a clinics they are not sure about how little but. What do you foresee any future need for statewide testing that that would be done through like an RFP process on our youth process I know we have you a mess it's got a man I will unit that they're taking around states that do we see in the future that that might be an needs or on the other side of that immunizations if we do get a vaccine Jean for say anything like that or we would engage and and need for those type of the expenditures of vaccines certainly a long way off if you six to nine months out of four so I I'm sure the agency with black but it as needed I believe they may be on the local had counsel our water out in the nation I don't know why it is or the state regarding yes the abilities of the hope that this might be you are protesting I believe that part also the last only the ones that are running a. Hospitals or the state but also national laboratories David increased our estate will be this coming Monday also. yes still looking at options office on select their doctor over that studies will doctor also in a not so that you will not come from ready practice to figure out you know how much but it's eight of the population has been exposed to have active already. Those at all okay let each other state. You don't work as the that the judge or anybody's year and those that have been improved I'm not radio but once that happens right to some of those things all. Okay get information all right are there any other questions. Members of the committee. Any other questions. Total I don't see any okay with that I a and just again want to thank the department of health I'm just please expressed year everybody at over there your entire team in the command center that we we're really just appreciate of of all the work that they're doing and yeah what ever we can do to help communicate to our constituents biggest takeaways you know just let us and I will get that information out as quickly as we can I likewise division of workforce services and all the work you are doing around the clock thank you so much please express our gratitude to your employees on our behalf and same goes to DHS again thank you for being available for this meeting for answering our questions Representative Ladyman you're recognized. Thank you senator Irvin. Of just I just wanna make sure that we take fill up for his work on this this is breaking new ground as we used to say. So it was something new and I appreciate your work on that communication and I think you what went really well the way you communicate that out and also bill are and I'm Marty for the work that they did setting this up it was brand new and went off well I believe and hopefully this was good information for the committee members who haven't had the opportunity to really talk to anyone and hope you all got something out of this I thought it went very well that was good information sharing and hopefully help you all's well. All right thank you everybody and with that we are adjourned. Thank you everyone.