Medical bills in Arkansas: free care, credit reports and your rights

Arkansas has no state charity-care law; nonprofit hospitals must still follow federal rules.

Arkansas has no state law that keeps medical debt off credit reports; the federal 7-year limit still applies.

Charity care means free or discounted care for people with low income. Hospitals also call it financial assistance.

Can I get my bill reduced?Is my debt too old?Can they sue me or report it?Free help

Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.

Federal rules for nonprofit hospitals apply in every state. Free help can review your bill.

Free tools, letters and checklist ↓

Can I get my bill reduced in Arkansas?

Arkansas has no state charity-care law. Nonprofit hospitals must follow the federal rules, and each hospital has its own policy: ask for it and for the application.

Is my debt too old in Arkansas?

Kind of agreementTime limit to sue
Written contract5 years
Open account3 years
Oral (spoken) agreement3 years
Medical debt (set by statute)2 years

A lawsuit to recover charges for medical services performed or provided by a physician or other medical service provider must be filed within 2 years from the date the services were provided or from the date of the most recent partial payment, whichever is later. For other debts, a lawsuit to enforce a written obligation must be filed within 5 years, and a lawsuit on a contract or obligation not in writing within 3 years.

What can restart the clock

Yes for medical bills: the 2 years run again from the date of your most recent partial payment for the services, if that is later than the date of service.

When the clock starts

For medical services: the later of the date the services were provided or the date of the most recent partial payment. For other debts: from the date the cause of action accrues.

Law: Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-106(b) (medical services; Ark. Code Ann. 2 years); Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-111 (written; Ark. Code Ann. 5 years); Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-105

A time limit to sue can differ by kind of agreement, and when it starts and what restarts it can differ; a court decides.

Check my dates with the free tool →

Can they sue me or report it in Arkansas?

Credit reports

No state limit

Arkansas has no state law that keeps medical debt off credit reports.

Waiting rules

Arkansas law sets no waiting period that applies only to medical bills.

Surprise bills and ambulance bills in Arkansas

State law

Minimum Allowable Reimbursement for Ground Ambulance Services

Law: Act 597 of 2023, amended by Act 867 of 2025

Which plans it covers

Health benefit plans from state-regulated insurers, HMOs, hospital and medical service corporations and risk-based provider organizations, and self-funded non-federal governmental plans (such as city or county plans).

What it adds

The state law adds protection for ground ambulance rides. Other surprise-bill protections come from federal law.

Ground ambulance

The state protects you

If your plan is covered, the insurer must pay an in-network or out-of-network ground ambulance provider at the rate set or contracted with the local government, or if there is none, at the lesser of 325% of the Medicare Arkansas rural ambulance rate or the provider's billed charges (since July 1, 2025).

Law: Ark. Code Ann. 23-99-1801 to 23-99-1802 (Act 597 of 2023; Act 867 of 2025)

Law: Act 597 of 2023; Act 867 of 2025

All the details →

Health coverage and Medicaid in Arkansas

Arkansas Medicaid (including ARHOME) is Arkansas's Medicaid program. Apply for it here:

Apply: Arkansas Medicaid (including ARHOME) · 1-855-372-1084

Where to complain in Arkansas

Free help in Arkansas

Free tools, letters and checklist

Good to know in Arkansas

  • Arkansas's ground ambulance law also covers self-funded city and county government plans, not only insurance companies.

    Law: Act 597 of 2023, Ark. Code Ann. 23-99-1801

  • Arkansas gives only 2 years to sue for charges for medical services, counted from the date of service or your most recent partial payment, whichever is later.

    Law: Ark. Code Ann. 16-56-106(b)

Changes in 2024–2026

April 17, 2025: Act 867 of 2025 changed the backup ground ambulance payment rate, on and after July 1, 2025, to the lesser of 325% of the Medicare Arkansas rural rate or billed charges. Act 1032 of 2021, which would have lengthened the 2-year limit for suing on medical bills to 5 years, never took effect because its federal condition was not met by January 1, 2026.

Law: HB 1850

Questions about medical bills in Arkansas

How long can a medical bill be collected or sued on in Arkansas?

A lawsuit to recover charges for medical services performed or provided by a physician or other medical service provider must be filed within 2 years from the date the services were provided or from the date of the most recent partial payment, whichever is later. For other debts, a lawsuit to enforce a written obligation must be filed within 5 years, and a lawsuit on a contract or obligation not in writing within 3 years.

Am I protected from ground ambulance bills in Arkansas?

If your plan is covered, the insurer must pay an in-network or out-of-network ground ambulance provider at the rate set or contracted with the local government, or if there is none, at the lesser of 325% of the Medicare Arkansas rural ambulance rate or the provider's billed charges (since July 1, 2025). That payment is payment in full except for your copay, coinsurance and deductible.

More help

Nearby states

Sources

Sources