4/7/2023: To ensure stakeholders have adequate public notice about upcoming changes in the Arkansas Medicaid program related to the unwinding of the public health emergency, you can click here to find a list of Disaster State Plan Amendments (DSPAs), Appendix Ks flexibilities for home and community-based services, and other flexibilities DHS received federal approval to implement during the public health emergency along with the date those flexibilities are expiring. The federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends May 11, 2023, but Arkansas Medicaid is allowed and/or required to continue some flexibilities beyond that date.
2/15/2023: ***REMINDER*** Any hospital that received payments under the ARPA Arkansas Hospitals COVID Surge Staff Funding Proposal was required to obligate expenses under this program no later than December 31, 2022. Additionally, hospitals must submit documentation of obligated expenses to DHS no later than June 30, 2023. A template that can be used to submit this information is available here.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions. Hospitals should submit their documentation to ARPA@dhs.arkansas.gov.
1/30/2023: The Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, announces a public notice period of 30 days notifying Qualified Behavioral Health paraprofessionals employed by Outpatient Behavioral Health Service Agencies that an exception established due to Covid 19 will end on March 2, 2023. Click here for details.
January 2023: CMS has approved a time-limited state plan amendment to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to increase behavioral health reimbursement rates for specific counseling services. Click here for details, and click here for a table outlining the approved rates.
December 2022: Some temporary Medicaid changes enacted during the Public Health Emergency will expire at the end of 2022. Click here for full details.
2/25/2022 – The DHS Division of Medicaid Services has opened an application to all eligible Medicaid HCBS service providers to participate in the Workforce Improvement Provider Incentive Program as detailed in Arkansas’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Section 9817 HCBS Spending Plan. Applications must be received by March 11. Click here for more information or to apply.
8/24/2021 – Due to guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), third doses of the COVID-19 vaccination shots will be available. The correct procedure codes that must be used to file a claim for administration of these shots are set out in the tables in this Official Notice.
8/06/2021 – Due to the continuing Public Health Emergency (PHE), Arkansas Medicaid, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor of the State of Arkansas, has authorized a temporary increase in the reimbursement rate for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. This temporary increase will be effective for sixty (60) days. The increase applies to both first (1st) and second (2nd) vaccination administration (if Pfizer or Moderna), or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
Temporary Increase in Arkansas Medicaid COVID-19 Vaccination Administration Rate
3/19/2021 – DHS is now accepting applications for CARES Act funding for Veteran’s Behavioral Health. These funds are designed to assist Veterans and their families during the current pandemic. Non-profit organizations whose primary focus is serving Veterans are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is April 30, 2021, however, early application is encouraged as funding must be expended by June 15, 2021. Please see CARES Act for Veterans below.
3/19/21 – DHS will begin accepting applications for CARES Community Investment Funding at 5 p.m. on March 19. This funding provides one-time funding for organizations that serve the most vulnerable Arkansans. Funds should assist the organizations in providing direct services to clients and meet the immediate needs of the community that are not addressed by other resources. Organizations selected must agree to provide direct services to individuals within high poverty areas. To be considered a high poverty area, the poverty rate of the city or county must be greater than 15 percent based on the 2010 Census. You can find more information about that on the Census website. Organizations applying for this grant MUST be the entity providing the direct services to the community. Organizations applying on behalf of other entities or seeking to fund other organizations will not be approved. Applications are due April 2, 2021, at 5 p.m. No late applications will be considered.
2/23/21 – New one-time funding is available to help open, licensed child care providers meet the pandemic procedures for safe operations and business operating expenses. DHS also will begin new applications for financial assistance to help cover child care expenses for essential workers on March 1. Essential workers include but are not limited to emergency responders, health care providers, public heath personnel, sanitation workers, child care and early childhood staff, K-12 educators, and individuals involved in the food supply chain during the pandemic. Eligibility is not based on income. Children must go to eligible child care providers and assistance is contingent upon available funding.
8/24/2021 – Due to guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), third doses of the COVID-19 vaccination shots will be available. The correct procedure codes that must be used to file a claim for administration of these shots are set out in the tables in this Official Notice.
8/06/2021 – Due to the continuing Public Health Emergency (PHE), Arkansas Medicaid, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor of the State of Arkansas, has authorized a temporary increase in the reimbursement rate for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. This temporary increase will be effective for sixty (60) days. The increase applies to both first (1st) and second (2nd) vaccination administration (if Pfizer or Moderna), or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
Temporary Increase in Arkansas Medicaid COVID-19 Vaccination Administration Rate
6/24/2021 – DHS COVID-19 Response Manuals will become effective 7/1/2021.
3/19/2021 – DHS is now accepting applications for CARES Act funding for Veteran’s Behavioral Health. These funds are designed to assist Veterans and their families during the current pandemic. Non-profit organizations whose primary focus is serving Veterans are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is April 30, 2021, however, early application is encouraged as funding must be expended by June 15, 2021. Please see CARES Act for Veterans below.
3/19/21 – DHS will begin accepting applications for CARES Community Investment Funding at 5 p.m. on March 19. This funding provides one-time funding for organizations that serve the most vulnerable Arkansans. Funds should assist the organizations in providing direct services to clients and meet the immediate needs of the community that are not addressed by other resources. Organizations selected must agree to provide direct services to individuals within high poverty areas. To be considered a high poverty area, the poverty rate of the city or county must be greater than 15 percent based on the 2010 Census. You can find more information about that on the Census website. Organizations applying for this grant MUST be the entity providing the direct services to the community. Organizations applying on behalf of other entities or seeking to fund other organizations will not be approved. Applications are due April 2, 2021, at 5 p.m. No late applications will be considered.
2/23/21 – New one-time funding is available to help open, licensed child care providers meet the pandemic procedures for safe operations and business operating expenses. DHS also will begin new applications for financial assistance to help cover child care expenses for essential workers on March 1. Essential workers include but are not limited to emergency responders, health care providers, public heath personnel, sanitation workers, child care and early childhood staff, K-12 educators, and individuals involved in the food supply chain during the pandemic. Eligibility is not based on income. Children must go to eligible child care providers and assistance is contingent upon available funding.
1/30/2023: The Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, announces a public notice period of 30 days notifying Qualified Behavioral Health paraprofessionals employed by Outpatient Behavioral Health Service Agencies that an exception established due to Covid 19 will end on March 2, 2023. Click here for details.
January 2023: CMS has approved a time-limited state plan amendment to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to increase behavioral health reimbursement rates for specific counseling services. Click here for details, and click here for a table outlining the approved rates.
December 2022: Some temporary Medicaid changes enacted during the Public Health Emergency will expire at the end of 2022. Click here for full details.
2/25/2022 – The DHS Division of Medicaid Services has opened an application to all eligible Medicaid HCBS service providers to participate in the Workforce Improvement Provider Incentive Program as detailed in Arkansas’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Section 9817 HCBS Spending Plan. Applications must be received by March 11. Click here for more information or to apply.
8/24/2021 – Due to guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), third doses of the COVID-19 vaccination shots will be available. The correct procedure codes that must be used to file a claim for administration of these shots are set out in the tables in this Official Notice.
8/06/2021 – Due to the continuing Public Health Emergency (PHE), Arkansas Medicaid, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor of the State of Arkansas, has authorized a temporary increase in the reimbursement rate for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. This temporary increase will be effective for sixty (60) days. The increase applies to both first (1st) and second (2nd) vaccination administration (if Pfizer or Moderna), or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
Temporary Increase in Arkansas Medicaid COVID-19 Vaccination Administration Rate
3/19/2021 – DHS is now accepting applications for CARES Act funding for Veteran’s Behavioral Health. These funds are designed to assist Veterans and their families during the current pandemic. Non-profit organizations whose primary focus is serving Veterans are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is April 30, 2021, however, early application is encouraged as funding must be expended by June 15, 2021. Please see CARES Act for Veterans below.
3/19/21 – DHS will begin accepting applications for CARES Community Investment Funding at 5 p.m. on March 19. This funding provides one-time funding for organizations that serve the most vulnerable Arkansans. Funds should assist the organizations in providing direct services to clients and meet the immediate needs of the community that are not addressed by other resources. Organizations selected must agree to provide direct services to individuals within high poverty areas. To be considered a high poverty area, the poverty rate of the city or county must be greater than 15 percent based on the 2010 Census. You can find more information about that on the Census website. Organizations applying for this grant MUST be the entity providing the direct services to the community. Organizations applying on behalf of other entities or seeking to fund other organizations will not be approved. Applications are due April 2, 2021, at 5 p.m. No late applications will be considered.
2/23/21 – New one-time funding is available to help open, licensed child care providers meet the pandemic procedures for safe operations and business operating expenses. DHS also will begin new applications for financial assistance to help cover child care expenses for essential workers on March 1. Essential workers include but are not limited to emergency responders, health care providers, public heath personnel, sanitation workers, child care and early childhood staff, K-12 educators, and individuals involved in the food supply chain during the pandemic. Eligibility is not based on income. Children must go to eligible child care providers and assistance is contingent upon available funding.
8/24/2021 – Due to guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), third doses of the COVID-19 vaccination shots will be available. The correct procedure codes that must be used to file a claim for administration of these shots are set out in the tables in this Official Notice.
8/06/2021 – Due to the continuing Public Health Emergency (PHE), Arkansas Medicaid, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor of the State of Arkansas, has authorized a temporary increase in the reimbursement rate for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. This temporary increase will be effective for sixty (60) days. The increase applies to both first (1st) and second (2nd) vaccination administration (if Pfizer or Moderna), or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
Temporary Increase in Arkansas Medicaid COVID-19 Vaccination Administration Rate
6/24/2021 – DHS COVID-19 Response Manuals will become effective 7/1/2021.
3/19/2021 – DHS is now accepting applications for CARES Act funding for Veteran’s Behavioral Health. These funds are designed to assist Veterans and their families during the current pandemic. Non-profit organizations whose primary focus is serving Veterans are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is April 30, 2021, however, early application is encouraged as funding must be expended by June 15, 2021. Please see CARES Act for Veterans below.
3/19/21 – DHS will begin accepting applications for CARES Community Investment Funding at 5 p.m. on March 19. This funding provides one-time funding for organizations that serve the most vulnerable Arkansans. Funds should assist the organizations in providing direct services to clients and meet the immediate needs of the community that are not addressed by other resources. Organizations selected must agree to provide direct services to individuals within high poverty areas. To be considered a high poverty area, the poverty rate of the city or county must be greater than 15 percent based on the 2010 Census. You can find more information about that on the Census website. Organizations applying for this grant MUST be the entity providing the direct services to the community. Organizations applying on behalf of other entities or seeking to fund other organizations will not be approved. Applications are due April 2, 2021, at 5 p.m. No late applications will be considered.
2/23/21 – New one-time funding is available to help open, licensed child care providers meet the pandemic procedures for safe operations and business operating expenses. DHS also will begin new applications for financial assistance to help cover child care expenses for essential workers on March 1. Essential workers include but are not limited to emergency responders, health care providers, public heath personnel, sanitation workers, child care and early childhood staff, K-12 educators, and individuals involved in the food supply chain during the pandemic. Eligibility is not based on income. Children must go to eligible child care providers and assistance is contingent upon available funding.
DHS wants to assure you that prior authorizations are being processed, claims and invoices are being processed and paid.
Note: If you work with a program that allows paper claims or invoices, please know that you could experience a delay in payment as this situation evolves. We encourage providers to submit electronic claims to ensure payment more quickly.
Enrolled Medicaid providers can register for the online Medicaid Provider Portal to submit electronic claims by visiting: https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov/armedicaid/provider/Home/ProviderEnrollment
As we work to ensure the essential services DHS provides through providers like you, we may come across rules or regulations that we need to temporarily suspend to ensure we can meet the needs of our clients. You can find a list of suspended rules here: Emergency rule suspensions