No. HB 163
Filed under Healthcare.
Access to Medicaid Providers; Requires AHCA to include specified requirements in its contracts with Medicaid managed care plans; defines "outside of regular business hours."
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDAt least half of the primary care providers in each Medicaid managed care plan's network must offer patients appointments outside regular business hours -- weeknights after 5 p.m., before 8 a.m., and all weekend.
The state's Medicaid agency must also set separate standards guaranteeing enrollees can reach a network provider on state holidays, not just during the new off-hours window for primary care.
'Outside of regular business hours' is defined precisely: weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., plus all day Saturday and Sunday, so plans know exactly which appointment slots count toward the 50 percent requirement.
AIAt least 50 percent of the primary care providers in a Medicaid plan's network must offer appointment availability to enrollees outside of regular business hours, as newly defined in the statute.
AIThe state Medicaid agency must establish specific standards ensuring enrollees can reach a network provider on state holidays and outside regular business hours, separate from the 50 percent primary-care figure.
AIThe statute now fixes exact hours for the new off-hours requirement: weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., plus all of Saturday and Sunday, removing ambiguity about which appointment slots count.