Patient Protection Act of 1995: The General Assembly finds that patients should be given the opportunity to see the healthcare provider of their choice. In order to assure the citizens of the State of Arkansas the right to choose the provider of their choice, it is the intent of the General Assembly to provide the opportunity of providers to participate in health benefit plans.

This law enacts an Any Willing Provider (AWP) which prohibits a carrier from excluding from their network any health care provider that is willing and able to accept the health benefit plan’s operating terms and conditions. Under the Act, a benefit plan is also prohibited from imposes a monetary advantage or penalty that would affect a beneficiary’s choice among healthcare providers who participate in the plan. (Possibly preempted by ERISA according to Little Rock Cardiology Clinic, P.A. v. Baptist Health, 573 F.Supp.2d 1125 (2008).)