(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) The State of Arkansas currently ranks forty-sixth among the fifty (50) states for having the least healthy population;(2) A major contributing factor to the state's low health ranking is its high percentage of uninsured persons;(3) There is a significant gap in the state's healthcare safety net, especially with regard to working adults with low incomes; and(4) New relationships are needed between the federal and state governments, local communities, healthcare providers, employers, and uninsured persons in this state so that healthcare services for the uninsured will be more accessible, more affordable, and more effective.(b) Therefore, there is created a statutory framework for the establishment of community-based healthcare access programs that can serve as a bridge to connect and assist government, communities, and citizens to develop a more comprehensive and responsible healthcare system, one that seeks to expand access and education with regard to health services for economically disadvantaged, uninsured working adults.Acts 2003, No. 660, § 1.
Arkansas Legal Code