Arkansas PT, OT and SLP guide

For OT, PT and SLP clinics in Arkansas: three state boards license the disciplines, the licensing law requires a physician referral before bronchopulmonary hygiene or wound debridement begins, Arkansas Medicaid covers children’s therapy under EPSDT and adults within its own rules, and telehealth follows the patient’s location. Every rule here is quoted from its source.⁠^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

Who licenses OTs, PTs and SLPs in Arkansas?

Three state boards license the three disciplines in Arkansas, and each publishes its own licensing law, rules, renewal cycle and continuing-education requirement.⁠^1,8,9 A clinic that employs more than one discipline keeps three registers, not one.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants answer to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy.⁠^{1,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46} Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants answer to the Arkansas State Medical Board, with its Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee.⁠^{8,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56} Speech-language pathologists answer to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA).⁠^{9,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65} The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy, five members appointed by the Governor for three-year terms, has licensed physical therapists since Act 1232 of 1991; before then the Arkansas Medical Board licensed them.⁠^{1,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46} The Arkansas State Medical Board administers the Occupational Therapy Practice Act and licenses occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, with the advice and assistance of the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee.⁠^{8,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56} The Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, seven members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms, is established within the Department of Health.⁠^{9,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65} A license is a state authorization; a national certification (NBCOT for occupational therapy, the ASHA certificate for speech-language pathology, the NPTE for physical therapy) is a different thing and does not replace it. Compact privileges for practitioners licensed elsewhere are covered under telehealth below.

What does an Arkansas license renewal require?

Each board sets its own cycle and hours, listed in the table above, and the register template at the end of this page tracks them per clinician.⁠^1,8,9 A renewal missed is a lapse, and the board’s own rules say what a lapsed licensee may and may not do; the clinic reads those rules before a clinician’s renewal date passes, not after.

Can a patient see an Arkansas PT, OT or SLP without a referral?

State law answers this discipline by discipline, and a payer may still require a referral the law does not. For physical therapy, the licensing law defines the practice of physical therapy to include examining and evaluating patients to determine a physical therapy diagnosis, prognosis and planned therapeutic intervention, and alleviating impairments and functional limitations through therapeutic interventions, and it requires a physician referral before bronchopulmonary hygiene or wound debridement begins.⁠^2,10,11 Physical therapy may be provided only by or under the direction of a person the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy licenses. Arkansas Medicaid, as a payer, requires a written referral and a written prescription, on form DMS-640, signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology for clients under 21.⁠^2,10,11 For occupational therapy, the licensing law defines occupational therapy as the evaluation and treatment of individuals whose ability to cope with the tasks of living is threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, environmental or sensory deprivation, physical injury or illness, or psychological and social disability, and requires a license to practice it.⁠^66,67,68 For speech-language pathology, the licensing act defines speech-language pathology as the application of principles, methods and procedures for the measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, counseling, instruction, habilitation or rehabilitation related to the development and disorders of speech, voice or language, and dysphagia.⁠^69,70

The payer’s rule is separate. Medicare pays for outpatient therapy under a plan of care certified by a physician or nonphysician practitioner, and the regulation’s 2025 text lets a signed order or referral on file, with the plan delivered within 30 days of the initial evaluation, stand in for that signature on an initial plan.⁠²⁵ Arkansas Medicaid’s referral and prior-authorization rules are in the next section. A commercial plan’s rule is in its member contract and provider manual, and the clinic keeps a copy of each.

How does Arkansas Medicaid pay for pediatric and adult therapy?

Arkansas Medicaid is run by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Medical Services, and a clinic enrolls through its provider enrollment route before it bills.⁠⁷¹ For children, the federal EPSDT benefit requires the state to cover services that correct or ameliorate a condition found at a screening, whether or not the state plan covers them for adults.⁠⁷² Arkansas Medicaid pays enrolled providers for medically necessary occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology given under a plan of care to Medicaid-eligible children and young adults under 21 in the Child Health Services (EPSDT) Program.⁠^3,4,5,6,7

Therapy for members 21 and older is not covered under the therapy manual; adults are covered only through other Arkansas Medicaid programs: Adult Developmental Day Treatment, hospital and critical access hospital, rehabilitative hospital, home health, hospice and physician services.⁠^12,13 Each discipline is covered up to six units a week without authorization. More than six units a week needs an extension of benefits, requested from Arkansas Medicaid’s Quality Improvement Vendor (QIO) on form DMS-671 only after a claim is denied for exceeding the benefit, and within 90 calendar days of that denial.⁠^{73,74,75,76,77} Arkansas Medicaid’s managed care program is the PASSE (Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity), which serves individuals with complex behavioral health needs and intellectual or developmental disabilities. PASSEs manage most Medicaid-covered services, including medical, behavioral and home and community-based supports, and their state plan services include occupational, physical and speech therapy. The four PASSEs are Arkansas Total Care, CareSource, Empower and Summit.⁠^{78,79,80,81,82} The fee schedule is published by the agency, and a clinic reads the current file rather than a remembered rate.⁠⁸³

How does Arkansas Medicaid want OT, PT and SLP claims coded?

Arkansas Medicaid pays therapy from a fee schedule, at the lower of the billed charge or its maximum allowable amount. Only full units may be billed, with no rounding up of partial units, and a group may have no more than four clients.⁠^{84,85,86,87,88} The codes, modifiers and authorization forms are the manual’s and change with it, so the clinic reads the current therapy sections before its first claim and records the manual’s page-updated date in the payer register.

Does Arkansas Medicaid pay for therapy in schools?

School districts and education service cooperatives certified by the Arkansas Department of Education can bill Arkansas Medicaid for therapy, and may employ or contract with the therapists and assistants who provide it. For therapy under a child’s IEP, a referral is required at the start of each school year, and a standardized evaluation every three years with an annual progress update.⁠^89,90,91 A school’s billing is the district’s, under its own program; an outpatient clinic’s claim for the same child is a separate matter with its own eligibility and authorization.

Does Arkansas Medicaid cover therapy by telehealth?

Arkansas Medicaid pays for therapy delivered by telemedicine, in real time only, at the same rate and under the same benefit limits as in person; evaluations and treatment planning must be done in person.⁠^92,93,94 The telehealth section below covers the state’s own rules for the session itself.

What are Arkansas’s telehealth rules for therapy?

A therapist treating a patient by video needs authority to practice where the patient is located at the time of the session, and the federal telehealth site says so plainly: licensure follows the patient’s location, and a compact privilege is one route to it.⁠¹⁴ Arkansas’s Telemedicine Act lets a licensed healthcare professional treat through telemedicine, including interactive audio, once a professional relationship is established and within the professional’s scope of practice. The PT board’s telehealth rule and the SLP board’s telepractice rule hold care to the same standards as in person, and the PT rule requires an Arkansas license to treat a patient located in Arkansas. For Arkansas Medicaid therapy by telemedicine, a parent’s or guardian’s consent is required before services begin.⁠^{95,96,97,98,99}

A compact privilege is not a national license: it is a privilege to practice in the specific member state that issued it, under that state’s licensing law, and a state that has enacted the compact may not yet be issuing privileges, which is why the table names the commission’s current status.⁠^15,16,17 Arkansas requires health benefit plans to cover and reimburse healthcare services provided through telemedicine on the same basis as services provided in person. The law has applied to health benefit plans and to the Arkansas Medicaid Program since January 1, 2016.⁠^100,101

Which business steps are specific to Arkansas?

The entity is registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Business & Commercial Services division, and the choice of entity is shaped by the state’s rule on who may own a therapy business.⁠²⁷ Arkansas’s Professional Corporation Act defines a professional service as any type of professional service that may be legally performed only under a license or other legal personal authorization.⁠²⁸ State tax registration is with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).⁠¹⁰² Arkansas’s gross receipts tax is levied on sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products and digital codes, and on the services the statute lists.⁠¹⁰³ Arkansas’s Workers’ Compensation Law covers every employment in the state in which three or more employees are regularly employed by the same employer in the course of business, with the exceptions the law lists, and says every employer should secure compensation to its employees.⁠^104,105 A city or county business license is a local question, answered by the city hall of the clinic’s address. The startup-costs guide carries the budget worksheet these registrations go into.

What record and privacy rules apply in Arkansas?

As an Arkansas Medicaid requirement, a provider keeps all records for five years from the date of service, or until any audit, review, appeal, investigation or litigation is finally concluded, whichever is later.⁠²⁶ Two federal periods sit beside it and are often confused with it: Medicare requires 7 years for documentation of orders, certifications, referrals and payment requests, and HIPAA requires 6 years for its own compliance documentation, and neither sets the retention period for the clinical chart.⁠^106,107

Arkansas’s Personal Information Protection Act requires any person or business that owns or licenses computerized personal information to tell each Arkansas resident whose unencrypted personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person, as quickly as possible and without unreasonable delay. The act does not apply to a person or business regulated by a state or federal law that gives greater protection to personal information and at least as thorough breach disclosure requirements. Compliance with that law counts as compliance with the act.⁠^108,109 Arkansas’s Child Maltreatment Act requires each individual it lists as a mandated reporter to notify the Child Abuse Hotline immediately on reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been subjected to child maltreatment. An employer or supervisor may not stop an employee or volunteer from reporting directly to the Child Abuse Hotline.⁠^110,111

Which Arkansas rules shape a pediatric clinic?

First Connections, Arkansas’s early intervention program for children from birth to 3 with a developmental delay or disability, is directed by the Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education. Anyone can refer a child to First Connections, and a child needs only a suspected delay, not a diagnosis. First Connections says IDEA Part C requires primary referral sources, including people licensed or certified to work with young children, to refer a child suspected of a developmental delay as soon as possible and no later than 7 days after the delay is suspected. A child is eligible with a diagnosed condition likely to cause delay, or with a significant delay, defined as 25 percent of the child’s chronological age or more in one or more areas of development. The developmental evaluation and assessment cost the family nothing out of pocket. First Connections’ list of early intervention services includes occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology. Arkansas Medicaid requires each therapy provider to refer to First Connections, within two working days of first contact, any child from birth to 36 months with a diagnosed or suspected developmental delay or disability. Arkansas Medicaid also requires a referral to the local education agency, within two working days of first contact, for a child 3 or older not yet in kindergarten with a diagnosed or suspected delay or disability.⁠^{29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36} A child who turns three moves from early intervention to the school district’s evaluation, and a private clinic’s services run beside both systems rather than inside them. Arkansas requires health benefit plans to cover autism spectrum disorders, and the covered treatment includes therapeutic care, defined as services by licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists or physical therapists. Applied behavior analysis has an annual limit of $50,000 and is limited to children under 18, and the coverage is not subject to limits on the number of visits. The section applies to health benefit plans renewed in Arkansas on or after October 1, 2011.⁠^112,113,114 The autism insurance mandates guide covers how such a mandate meets a plan’s own terms.

Which Arkansas rules shape an adult clinic?

Medicare claims from Arkansas go to Novitas Solutions, Inc., the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Jurisdiction H, Parts A and B (Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas), whose local coverage articles for therapy are the ones an Arkansas clinic reads.⁠¹¹⁵ CMS announced the Jurisdiction H award to Novitas on June 25, 2026.⁠¹¹⁵ Arkansas Medicaid’s adult therapy rules are in the Medicaid section above. The Workers’ Compensation Commission’s official Medical Fee Schedule is based on Medicare’s Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), using its national relative value units and Arkansas-specific conversion factors the Commission adopts.⁠¹¹⁶

Which associations and directory pages serve Arkansas?

The state chapters are APTA Arkansas for physical therapy, the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association (AROTA) for occupational therapy and the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA) for speech-language pathology.⁠^117,118,119 On DrSensory, families browse Arkansas clinics by discipline on the occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state, which the directory builds from the clinic addresses it holds; a clinic appears on the pages of its own address.⁠¹²⁰

Which Arkansas cities have DrSensory city pages?

Beyond its three Arkansas pages, the directory publishes city pages for 3 Arkansas cities, 5 pages across the three disciplines, each listing the clinics whose address is in that city; a clinic appears on the city page of its address without any action of its own, and a city or discipline without a page is reached through the state page.⁠¹²⁰

How many Arkansas PT, OT and SLP clinics does DrSensory list?

DrSensory lists 27 PT, OT and SLP clinics in Arkansas, on its occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state.⁠¹²⁰

Where does each requirement come from, and what does the clinic do?

Which templates does an Arkansas launch need?

How might two Arkansas clinics plan a launch?

Sources

1. Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. Checked October 30, 2026.
2. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-93-102. Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “(7) “Practice of physical therapy” means: (A) Examining and evaluating patients with mechanical, physiological, and developmental impairments, functional limitations, and disability or other health-related conditions in order to determine a physical therapy diagnosis, prognosis, and planned therapeutic intervention; (B) (i) Alleviating impairments and functional limitations by ... (ii) The therapeutic intervention of bronchopulmonary hygiene and debridement of wounds require a physician referral before initiation of treatment.”
3. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 211.000, Introduction. Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “The Arkansas Medicaid Program will reimburse enrolled providers for medically necessary covered services when such services are provided pursuant to a plan of care to Medicaid-eligible individuals under twenty-one (21) years of age in the Child Health Services (EPSDT) Program.”
4. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.510, Occupational and Physical Therapy Standardized Evaluations. Checked October 30, 2026.
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   “A. The medical necessity of occupational therapy and physical therapy services is established by a score on a standardized evaluation performed within the past twelve (12) months that indicates a composite or subtest area score of at least one point five (1.5) standard deviations below the mean.”
5. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.500, Standardized Evaluation. “1. Beneficiaries receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology services outside of public schools must receive an annual standardized evaluation(s) to demonstrate continued eligibility.” Checked October 30, 2026.
6. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.200, Referral to Evaluate. “B. A referral for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services must be renewed at least once every twelve (12) months ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
7. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.300, Treatment Prescription. “B. A prescription for occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology services is valid for the shorter of the length of time specified on the prescription or one (1) year.” Checked October 30, 2026.
8. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas State Medical Board, with its Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee. Checked October 30, 2026.
9. Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA). Checked October 30, 2026.
10. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-93-301. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) (1) Unless physical therapy services are provided by or under the direction of a person licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy under this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to: (A) Practice physical therapy ...”
11. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.200, Referral to Evaluate, and § 212.300, Treatment Prescription. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written referral signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written prescription signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... C. The prescription for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services must be on a form DMS-640 – “Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy for Medicaid Eligible Beneficiaries Under Age 21 Prescription/Referral””
12. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 211.000, Introduction. “A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services for individuals twenty-one (21) years of age and older are not covered services under this manual.” Checked October 30, 2026.
13. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Therapy Services (Developmental Disabilities Services). “... aged 21 and older are only covered when provided through the following Medicaid Programs: Adult Developmental Day Treatment (ADDT) Hospital/Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Rehabilitative Hospital Home Health Hospice and Physician ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
14. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Getting started with licensure (Telehealth.HHS.gov, last updated February 21, 2024). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “Health professionals must meet the licensure requirements of the state where they are located and be licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state where the patient is located”. Its companion page, Licensing across state lines (last updated April 30, 2025): “The ability to deliver health care services across state lines varies based on state regulations”; “Prior to an appointment, providers should verify patient location and obtain consent”; “Compacts allow participating health care providers to practice in participating states”.
15. PT Compact Commission. PT Compact Map. “Member States (38) Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas ... Member States Actively Issuing and Accepting Compact Privileges ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
16. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-93-501. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact is enacted into law and entered into by this state with all states legally joining therein and in the form substantially as follows ... Acts 2019, No. 313, § 1 ...”
17. Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. “Information regarding the availability of compact privileges and the procedure for applying for a privilege is available online at www.ptcompact.org.” Checked October 30, 2026.
18. Occupational Therapy Compact Commission. Before You Apply for an OT Compact Privilege. “States not listed below are not a member of the Occupational Therapy Compact. ... State Accepting OTC Applications? Jurisprudence Information ... Arkansas October 5, 2026 not required ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
19. Arkansas State Medical Board. Occupational Therapist / OT Assistant. “Act 257 of 2023: ESTABLISH THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT IN ARKANSAS ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
20. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-402, Administration of compact — Rules. “(a) The Arkansas State Medical Board is the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact administrator for this state.” Checked October 30, 2026.
21. Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission. Delegate Information. “Member State Appointed Delegates ... Arkansas Audiology Rebecca Rusnak ... Arkansas SLP Heidi Jansen ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
22. Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission. ASLP-IC Home. “Registration is open for licensed practitioners in Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
23. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-100-401. “The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact is enacted into law and entered into by this state with all states legally joining therein and in the form substantially as follows ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
24. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-100-402. “(a) The Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact administrator for this state.” Checked October 30, 2026.
25. Code of Federal Regulations. 42 CFR 424.24, Requirements for medical and other health services furnished by providers under Medicare Part B (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; paragraph (c), outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “The individual needs, or needed, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”; “The services were furnished while the individual was under the care of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant.”; “The initial certification must be obtained as soon as possible after the plan is established.”; “Recertification is required at least every 90 days.”; “When it is recertified, the plan or other documentation in the patient’s record must indicate the continuing need for physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech-language pathology services.”; “the therapist has documented evidence that the plan of treatment has been delivered to the physician, NP, PA, or CNS within 30 days of completion of the initial evaluation, the certification does not need to be signed by a physician, NP, CNS, or PA who has knowledge of the case.”; “No references to an order or referral in this subsection shall be construed to require an order or referral for outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”.
26. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Section I, General Medicaid Policy, § 142.300, Conditions Related to Record Keeping. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “C. Each provider must retain all records for five (5) years from the date of service or until all audit questions or review issues, appeal hearings, investigations or administrative or judicial litigation to which the records may relate are finally concluded, whichever period is later.”
27. Arkansas Secretary of State. For New Businesses (Business & Commercial Services). “To start a new business entity, follow the steps below: ... Search for your BUSINESS NAME AVAILABILITY HERE ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
28. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 4-29-202. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(2) “Professional service” means any type of professional service which may be legally performed only pursuant to a license or other legal personal authorization for example, the personal service rendered by certified public accountants, architects, engineers, dentists, doctors, and attorneys at law ...”
29. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. About | First Connections. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “In Arkansas, First Connections (FC) Early intervention is under the direction of the Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Special Education (OSE). FC is a federally funded program for families whose child is under the age of three and has a developmental delay or disability.”
30. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Refer A Child | First Connections. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Anyone (parents, grandparents, other family, and family friends) Can Make a Referral A child does not have to have a diagnosis to be referred -only a suspected delay identified when a child is missing developmental milestones or has failed a hearing/vision screening.”
31. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Refer A Child | First Connections. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires primary referral sources such as childcare workers and other individuals licensed or certified to work with young children to refer any child suspected of having a developmental delay for early intervention as soon as possible but no later than 7 days after a delay is suspected.”
32. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Eligibility Requirements for First Connections. ““Significant delay” is defined as a delay of 25% of the child’s chronological age (or greater) in one or more area of development (a-e above).” Checked October 30, 2026.
33. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. First Connections. “A comprehensive, developmental evaluation and assessment to measure your child’s strengths and needs in each area of development is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the family.” Checked October 30, 2026.
34. First Connections, Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Early Intervention Services | First Connections. “Below is the list of the 17 federally-identified early intervention services outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Part C). ... Occupational therapy Physical therapy ... Speech-language pathology services ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
35. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 206.000, Required Referral to First Connections pursuant to Part C of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “Each occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology service provider must, within two (2) working days of first contact, refer to the First Connections program any infant or toddler from birth to thirty-six (36) months of age for whom there is a diagnosis or suspicion of a developmental delay or disability.”
36. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 207.000, Required Referral to Local Education Agency (“LEA”) pursuant to Part B of IDEA. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Each occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology service provider must, within two (2) working days of first contact, refer to the Local Education Agency (LEA) any child three (3) years of age or older that has not entered kindergarten for whom there is a diagnosis or suspicion of a developmental delay or disability.”
37. Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. “The Board consists of five members appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. ... The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy was created by Act 1232 of 1991. Prior to that time licensing was by the Arkansas Medical Board.” Checked October 30, 2026.
38. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-93-202. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy shall: (1) Pass upon the qualifications of applicants for licensure of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants; (2) Provide for the examinations of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants; (3) Determine the applicants who successfully pass the examinations; and (4) License applicants who meet the qualifications provided in this chapter.”
39. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-106, Renewals and reinstatement (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a)(1) Licenses must be renewed annually by March 1. (2) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who have not paid annual renewal fees by March 1 are in violation of the Arkansas Physical Therapy Act, Arkansas Code § 17-93-101 et seq., and shall not engage in practice.”
40. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-106, Renewals and reinstatement (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). “(e) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will be required to complete appropriate continuing education, which includes passing a jurisprudence examination approved by the board for renewal in odd-numbered years.” Checked October 30, 2026.
41. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-111, Continuing education requirements (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a)(1) The licensed physical therapist must complete, by December 31 in each biennium, two (2) CEUs. ... (b)(1) The licensed physical therapist assistant must complete, by December 31 in each biennium, one (1) CEU. ... (1)(A) One (1) CEU is defined as ten (10) contact hours of an accredited course or program.”
42. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-111, Continuing education requirements (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(D) No more than fifty percent (50%) of continuing education can be taken through online courses. (E)(i) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are required to pass a board-approved jurisprudence exam as part of the required continuing education. (ii) The jurisprudence examination is counted as a one-hour online course.”
43. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-111, Continuing education requirements (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). “(3)(A) Continuing education audits begin after the renewal due by March 1, 2025.” Checked October 30, 2026.
44. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 175-109, Physical therapist assistant supervision (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) The practice of the physical therapist assistant shall be performed only under the supervision of the licensed physical therapist who retains moral, ethical, and legal responsibility for patient care. (b) The supervising therapist must be readily available for consultation, evaluations, and establishment of each program.”
45. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-93-102. “(8) (A) “Supervision” means that the supervising therapist retains moral, ethical, and legal responsibility for patient care and is readily available ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
46. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 203.000, Supervision. “C. A therapist or speech-language pathologist may not supervise more than five (5) therapy assistants or speech-language pathology assistants at any given time.” Checked October 30, 2026.
47. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-201, Arkansas State Medical Board. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) The Arkansas State Medical Board shall administer the provisions of this chapter. (b) With the advice and assistance of the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee, the board shall pass upon the qualification of applicants for licensure, regulate and supervise all examinations, determine the applicants who successfully pass the examination, and license the applicants who meet the qualifications provided in this chapter.”
48. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-202, Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) There is created an Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee to assist the Arkansas State Medical Board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. ... (1) The committee shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate for terms of five (5) years ...”
49. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 140-404, Licensing (Arkansas State Medical Board Rules, occupational therapists). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(d) Renewal. (1) A renewal or reregistration fee shall be paid annually to the Arkansas State Medical Board by each occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant who holds a license to practice occupational therapy in the State of Arkansas. ... (h) Failure to reregister and comply with the continuing education requirements by the last day of the birth month of the license holder of that year shall cause the license of the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in question to automatically expire.”
50. Arkansas State Medical Board. Frequently Asked Questions (Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapist Assistant). “The renewal of your Arkansas license is to be completed on the ASMB website (www.armedicalboard.org) during your birth month each year.” Checked October 30, 2026.
51. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 140-404, Licensing (Arkansas State Medical Board Rules, occupational therapists). “(3)(A) Each occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant shall be required to complete ten (10) continuing education credits each year as a prerequisite for license renewal in the State of Arkansas.” Checked October 30, 2026.
52. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 140-404, Licensing (Arkansas State Medical Board Rules, occupational therapists). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(d) Each licensee will sign his or her renewal application verifying that he or she has completed said ten (10) hours and will maintain for a period of three (3) years proof of the courses taken, should it be requested by the Arkansas State Medical Board for audit purposes.”
53. Arkansas State Medical Board. Frequently Asked Questions (Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapist Assistant). “10 hours per renewal period.” Checked October 30, 2026.
54. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 140-401, Definitions (Arkansas State Medical Board Rules, occupational therapists). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) The supervising occupational therapist shall meet with the occupational therapy assistant for on-site, face-to-face supervision a minimum of one (1) hour per forty (40) occupational therapy work hours performed by the occupational therapy assistant to review each patient’s progress and objectives; (b) The supervising occupational therapist shall meet with each patient and the occupational therapy assistant providing services on a monthly basis to review patient progress and objectives ...”
55. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 140-401, Definitions (Arkansas State Medical Board Rules, occupational therapists). “(3) The occupational therapy assistant may not evaluate independently or initiate treatment prior to the occupational therapist’s evaluation.” Checked October 30, 2026.
56. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-102, Definitions. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(4) “Occupational therapy assistant” means a person licensed to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the frequent and regular supervision by or with consultation with an occupational therapist, whose license is in good standing.”
57. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-100-201. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) There is established the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology within the Department of Health. (b) (1) (A) The board shall be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms.”
58. Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “The function of the Board is to examine the credentials and qualifications of Speech-Language Pathologists, Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, and Audiologists who wish to provide services to the people of Arkansas, and to issue licenses or registration to those individuals who meet the standards ...”
59. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 180-501, Licenses generally (Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) The license, renewable annually, Arkansas Code § 17-100-305, in speech-language pathology and/or audiology shall be issued to all applicants who: ... (b)(1) Licenses expire at midnight on October 31 of each year if not renewed. (2) Payment and continuing education (if required) must be postmarked or submitted through the website no later than November 15 or the individual must cease practice until written notification of license renewal is received from the board.”
60. Arkansas Department of Health. ABESPA – Licensee Renewal Information. “Renewal notices are sent electronically at the beginning of August each year. The renewal portal opens September 1. All licenses shall be renewed online annually by October 31, or postmarked on or before November 15, to avoid delinquent renewal fees.” Checked October 30, 2026.
61. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 180-901, Continuing professional education generally (Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(2)(A) The licensee must participate in CPE activities of at least ten (10) clock hours for each license period. (B) At least five (5) of these hours must be in Content Area I. (3) Dual licensees must complete fifteen (15) clock hours with a minimum of five (5) hours in each discipline from Content Area I.”
62. Arkansas Department of Health. ABESPA – Licensee Renewal Information. “The licensee must participate in CPE activities of at least ten (10) clock hours for each license period (November 1 through October 31 of each year).” Checked October 30, 2026.
63. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 180-1312, Supervision guidelines for a speech-language pathology assistant (Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a)(1)(A) A total of at least thirty percent (30%) direct and indirect supervision is required and must be documented for the first forty-five (45) work days. ... (2) Documented direct supervision of patient/client care shall be required no less than twenty percent (20%) of the actual patient/client contact time weekly for each SLPA.”
64. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 180-1312, Supervision guidelines for a speech-language pathology assistant (Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(9) A minimum of one (1) hour of direct supervision weekly, or a minimum of ten percent (10%) (for SLPAs treating less than ten (10) hours per week) and as much indirect supervision as needed to facilitate delivery of quality services must be maintained.”
65. Arkansas Department of Health. Speech-Language Pathology Assistants. “Speech-Language Pathology Assistant licenses are issued on a yearly basis and must be renewed by October 31 each year, (starting in 2027.)” Checked October 30, 2026.
66. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-102, Definitions. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(A) “Occupational therapy” means the evaluation and treatment of individuals whose ability to cope with the tasks of living is threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, poverty or cultural differences, environmental or sensory deprivation, physical injury or illness, or psychological and social disability.”
67. Arkansas State Medical Board. Arkansas Medical Practices Act, Statutes and Rules (revised August 19, 2025), Arkansas Code § 17-88-301, License required. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “No person shall practice occupational therapy or hold himself or herself out as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant or as being able to practice occupational therapy or to render occupational therapy services in the state unless he or she is licensed in accordance with the provisions in this chapter.”
68. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.200, Referral to Evaluate, and § 212.300, Treatment Prescription. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written referral signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written prescription signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... C. The prescription for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services must be on a form DMS-640 – “Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy for Medicaid Eligible Beneficiaries Under Age 21 Prescription/Referral””
69. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-100-103. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(6) “Speech-language pathology” means the application of principles, methods, and procedures for the measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction ... , counseling, instruction, habilitation, or rehabilitation related to the development and disorders of speech, voice, or language, and dysphagia ...”
70. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.200, Referral to Evaluate, and § 212.300, Treatment Prescription. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written referral signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services require a written prescription signed by the client’s primary care or attending physician or certified nurse practitioner, as appropriate. ... C. The prescription for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services must be on a form DMS-640 – “Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy for Medicaid Eligible Beneficiaries Under Age 21 Prescription/Referral””
71. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Provider Enrollment. Checked October 30, 2026.
72. Medicaid.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (Medicaid benefit page). Checked October 26, 2026.
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    “The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid.”; “It is the responsibility of states to determine medical necessity on a case-by-case basis.”.
73. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 216.100, Extension of Benefits for Occupation Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-language Pathology Services. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “An enrolled provider must receive authorization to be reimbursed for more than six (6) units of medically necessary occupation therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology services in a week.”
74. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 214.400, Physical Therapy Services. “Medically necessary physical therapy services are reimbursed on a per unit basis and are covered up to six (6) units per week without authorization.” Checked October 30, 2026.
75. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 216.300, Process for Requesting Extended Therapy Services. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Requests for extended therapy services for beneficiaries under twenty-one (21) years of age and adults receiving services in an Adult Developmental Day Treatment (ADDT) must be sent to Arkansas Medicaid’s Quality Improvement Vendor (QIO). ... 1. Requests for extended therapy services are considered only after a claim is denied because a benefit is exceeded. 2. The request must be received by the QIO within ninety (90) calendar days of the date of the benefits-exceeded denial. ... B. Form DMS-671, “Request for Extension of Benefits for Clinical, Outpatient, Diagnostic Laboratory, and Radiology/Other Services”, must be utilized for requests for extended therapy services.”
76. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 231.000, Prior Authorization Request for a Speech Generating Device (SGD) Evaluation. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Prior authorization from the Division of Medical Services, Utilization Review Section is required for a provider to be reimbursed for conducting an Speech Generating Device (SGD) evaluation.”
77. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 217.000, Retrospective Review. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. A retrospective review will be performed on billed occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services. ... B. The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) under contract with the Arkansas Medicaid Program will perform retrospective reviews by reviewing client service records. ... 2. The QIO will review all billed and paid occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services delivered via telecommunication, as described in Section 214.600.”
78. Arkansas Department of Human Services. PASSE – Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity. “The Arkansas PASSE program (Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) is a Medicaid initiative designed to serve individuals with complex behavioral health needs and intellectual or developmental disabilities.” Checked October 30, 2026.
79. Arkansas Department of Human Services. PASSE – Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity. “Integrated Services: PASSEs manage most Medicaid-covered services, including medical, behavioral, and home/community-based supports.” Checked October 30, 2026.
80. Arkansas Department of Human Services. PASSE – Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity. “State Plan Services: Personal Care Speech Therapy Physical Therapy Inpatient Psychiatric Services ... Occupational Therapy Hospital Services ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
81. Arkansas Department of Human Services. PASSE – Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity. “Below please find the links to the quality rating system for each PASSE: Arkansas Total Care Rating System (ARTC) Quality Rating System ... CareSource Quality Rating System ... Empower Quality Rating System ... Summit Quality Rating System ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
82. Arkansas Department of Human Services. PASSE – Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “PASSE Open Enrollment is happening now! You can choose to keep your current PASSE or switch to a different one based on your needs. If you’re happy with your current PASSE program, you don’t need to do anything; it will automatically renew on January 1.”
83. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Fee Schedules. Checked October 30, 2026.
84. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 251.000, Method of Reimbursement. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services use fee schedule reimbursement methodology. Under the fee schedule methodology, reimbursement is made at the lower of the billed charge for the service or maximum allowable reimbursement for the service under the Arkansas Medicaid Program. 1. A full unit of service must be rendered in order to bill a unit of service. 2. Partial units of service may not be rounded up and are not reimbursable. B. The maximum group size for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services is four (4) clients.”
85. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Occupational, Physical and Speech-Language Pathology Procedure Codes, Descriptions & Modifiers (workbook). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “97110 ... THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES ... 1 unit = 15 minutes; max 6 units/week ... Individual Physical Therapy by Physical Therapist ... EVALUATION FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY, LOW COMPLEXITY ... Maximum of 2 evaluation units per SFY (regardless of complexity) ... *Cannot bill more than 2 units of codes 97161, 97162, & 97163 per year, combined.”
86. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Occupational, Physical and Speech-Language Pathology Procedure Codes, Descriptions & Modifiers (workbook). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “97530 ... INDIVIDUAL THERAPEUTIC THERAPY BY OT/PT (1 UNIT = 15 MINUTES) ... Individual Occupational Therapy by Occupational Therapist ... EVALUATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, LOW COMPLEXITY ... *Cannot bill more than 2 units of codes 97165, 97166, and 97167 per year, combined ...”
87. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Occupational, Physical and Speech-Language Pathology Procedure Codes, Descriptions & Modifiers (workbook). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “92507 ... SPEECH/HEARING THERAPY ... 1 unit = 15 minutes; max 6 units/week ... Individual Speech Session ... 92523 ... Evaluation of Speech Production (e.g., articulation, phonological process, apraxia, dysarthria) with Evaluation of Language Comprehension and Expression (e.g., receptive and expressive language)”
88. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Occupational, Physical and Speech-Language Pathology Procedure Codes, Descriptions & Modifiers (workbook). “97150 ... GROUP THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES ... max 4 clients/group ... 92508 ... Group Speech Session ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
89. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 201.300, School District, Education Service Cooperative, and Early Intervention Day Treatment Provider Participation Requirements. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. School districts and education service cooperatives must be certified by the Arkansas Department of Education in order to participate in the Arkansas Medicaid Program. ... C. A school district, education service cooperative, or EIDT program may elect to employ or contract with the therapists, speech-language pathologists, therapy assistants, and speech-language pathology assistants that perform those services on its behalf.”
90. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.200, Referral to Evaluate. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “... however, when a school district is providing the occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology services in accordance with a client’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), a referral is required at the beginning of each school year.”
91. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 212.500, Standardized Evaluation. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “2. Beneficiaries receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology services as a part of an Individual Program Plan (IPP) or an Individual Education Plan (IEP) through public schools must receive a standardized evaluation(s) every three (3) years to demonstrate continued eligibility; however, an annual update of the client’s progress is required.”
92. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 214.600, Telemedicine Services. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “A. An enrolled provider may be reimbursed for medically necessary occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services delivered through telemedicine. 1. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology evaluation and treatment planning services may not be conducted through telemedicine and must be performed through traditional in-person methods.”
93. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 214.600, Telemedicine Services. “2. All services delivered through telemedicine must be delivered in a synchronous manner, meaning through real-time interaction between the practitioner and client via a telecommunication link.” Checked October 30, 2026.
94. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 214.600, Telemedicine Services. “C. Services delivered through telemedicine are reimbursed in the same manner and subject to the same benefit limits as in-person, face-to-face service delivery.” Checked October 30, 2026.
95. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-80-404. Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(2) Once a professional relationship is established, a healthcare professional may provide healthcare services through telemedicine, including interactive audio, if the healthcare services are within the scope of practice for which the healthcare professional is licensed or certified and the healthcare services otherwise meet the requirements of this subchapter.”
96. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-80-404. “(a) (1) A professional relationship shall be established in compliance with § 17-80-403 to provide healthcare services through telemedicine.” Checked October 30, 2026.
97. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 176-104, Requirement for all services provided by licensees using telehealth (Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Telehealth Rule). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(c) The practice of physical therapy via telehealth shall be held to the same standards of care as traditional in-person encounters. (d) All licensees providing care via telemedicine to a patient located within the State of Arkansas shall be licensed to practice physical therapy in the State of Arkansas.”
98. Code of Arkansas Rules (Arkansas State Government). 17 CAR § 180-1202, Appropriate use of telepractice (Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Rules). Checked October 30, 2026.
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    “(a) A professional relationship must be established in accordance with this subpart before the delivery of services via telepractice. ... (c) The practice of speech-language pathology or audiology via telepractice shall be held to the same standards of care as traditional in-person encounters.”
99. Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Services, Section II, § 214.600, Telemedicine Services. “2. Parental or guardian consent is required prior to telemedicine service delivery.” Checked October 30, 2026.
100. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-79-1602. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(c) (1) A health benefit plan shall provide coverage and reimbursement for healthcare services provided through telemedicine on the same basis as the health benefit plan provides coverage and reimbursement for health services provided in person, unless ...”
101. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-79-1602. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(a) (1) This subchapter applies to all health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended in Arkansas on or after January 1, 2016, or at any time when any term of the health benefit plan is changed or any premium adjustment is made thereafter. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1) of this section, this subchapter applies to the Arkansas Medicaid Program on and after January 1, 2016.”
102. Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Sales & Use Tax. “The Arkansas Sales and Use Tax section administers the interpretation, collection and enforcement of the Arkansas Sales and use tax laws. ... This department issues sales tax permits and completes the business closure process.” Checked October 30, 2026.
103. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 26-52-301. “... upon the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales to any person of the following: (1) The following items: (A) Tangible personal property; ... (3) The following services ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
104. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 11-9-102. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “... employment in the state in which three (3) or more employees are regularly employed by the same employer in the course of business except: (i) An employee employed as a domestic servant in or about a private ...”
105. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 11-9-401. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(a) (1) Every employer should secure compensation to its employees and pay or provide compensation for their disability or death from compensable injury arising out of and in the course of employment without regard to fault as a cause of the injury.”
106. Code of Federal Regulations. 42 CFR 424.516, Additional provider and supplier requirements for enrolling and maintaining active enrollment status in the Medicare program (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; paragraph (f), Maintaining and providing access to documentation). Checked October 26, 2026.
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     “A provider or a supplier that furnishes covered ordered, certified, referred, or prescribed Part A or B services, items or drugs is required to—”; “Maintain documentation (as described in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section) for 7 years from the date of service; and”; “Upon the request of CMS or a Medicare contractor, to provide access to that documentation”; “The documentation includes written and electronic documents (including the NPI of the physician or, when permitted, other eligible professional who ordered, certified, referred, or prescribed the Part A or B service, item, or drug) relating to written orders, certifications, referrals, prescriptions, and requests for payments for Part A or B services, items or drugs.”.
107. Code of Federal Regulations. 45 CFR 164.316, Policies and procedures and documentation requirements (eCFR, up to date as of October 22, 2026; HIPAA Security Rule; paragraph (b)). Checked October 26, 2026.
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     “Maintain the policies and procedures implemented to comply with this subpart in written (which may be electronic) form; and”; “If an action, activity or assessment is required by this subpart to be documented, maintain a written (which may be electronic) record of the action, activity, or assessment.”; “Retain the documentation required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section for 6 years from the date of its creation or the date when it last was in effect, whichever is later.”.
108. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 4-110-105. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(a) (1) Any person or business that acquires, owns, or licenses computerized data that includes personal information shall disclose any breach of the security of the system following discovery or notification of the breach of the security of the system to any resident of Arkansas whose unencrypted personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person. (2) The disclosure shall be made in the most expedient time and manner possible and without unreasonable delay ...”
109. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 4-110-106. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(a) (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to a person or business that is regulated by a state or federal law that provides greater protection to personal information and at least as thorough disclosure requirements for breaches of the security of personal information than that provided by this chapter. (2) Compliance with the state or federal law shall be deemed compliance with this chapter with regard to the subjects covered by this chapter.”
110. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 12-18-402. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “(a) An individual listed as a mandated reporter under subsection (b) of this section shall immediately notify the Child Abuse Hotline if he or she: (1) Has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has: (A) Been subjected to child maltreatment ...”
111. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 12-18-402. “(2) An employer or supervisor of an employee identified as a mandated reporter shall not prohibit an employee or a volunteer from directly reporting child maltreatment to the Child Abuse Hotline.” Checked October 30, 2026.
112. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-99-418. “23-99-418. Coverage for autism spectrum disorders required — Definitions. ... (13) “Therapeutic care” means services provided by licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, or physical therapists ... (v) Therapeutic care ...” Checked October 30, 2026.
113. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-99-418. Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “... an annual limitation of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); and (2) Be limited to children under eighteen (18) years of age. (d) (1) The coverage required by this section is not subject to: (A) Any limits on the number of visits an individual ...”
114. Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research (Arkansas Code of 1987, public access site maintained by LexisNexis). Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-99-418. “... adjusted, or renewed in this state on or after October 1, 2011.” Checked October 30, 2026.
115. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Who are the MACs: A/B MAC Jurisdiction H (JH). Checked October 30, 2026.
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     “Award Announcement: A/B MAC Jurisdiction H award on SAM, June 25, 2026 Contract Awardee: Novitas Solutions, Inc., contract number 75FCMC19C0018 ... JH processes FFS Medicare Part A and Part B claims for Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas ...”
116. Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Medical Fee Schedule. “The official Medical Fee Schedule of the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission shall be based upon the Health Care Financing Administrations’s (HCFA) Medicare Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), utilizing HCFA’s national relative value units and Arkansas specific conversion factors adopted by the AWCC.” Checked October 30, 2026.
117. APTA Arkansas. APTA Arkansas (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
118. the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association (AROTA). the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association (AROTA) (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
119. the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA). the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA) (the state association's site). Checked October 30, 2026.
120. DrSensory. Occupational therapy clinics in Arkansas, with the physical therapy and speech therapy pages for the state (the directory's state pages, built from the addresses it holds). Checked October 30, 2026.
121. DrSensory. Clinic Directory Pricing. “Claiming your listing is free. The subscription is $349.99 a year or $29.99 a month for your first location, and $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month for each additional location, not per therapist.” Checked October 30, 2026.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is general guidance on running a therapy clinic in Arkansas, not legal, compliance, billing or financial advice. Rules change; the clinic confirms each with its source before acting on it.