Business
Arkansas passes any-willing law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 28, 2005
Arkansas' Legislature has passed an any-willing-provider bill that aimed to open up all of Arkansas' state-regulated insurance networks to any doctor who fulfilled the health plan's basic qualifications.
On Feb. 21, the state Legislature passed the measure, over strong opposition from Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield and several large employers, which warned the bill would raise insurance expenses for companies straining to afford coverage for workers. But the bill had the support of the Arkansas Medical Society and of Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was expected to sign the measure.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/03/28/bibf0328.htm.