HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN ARKANSAS

Fatumata Kaba
3 days ago
3 min read

DELIVERING SKILLED NURSING AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOMES

Home Health Services in Arkansas provides medically necessary, in-home healthcare to individuals with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or post-acute needs. These services are authorized under the Arkansas Medicaid State Plan, ARChoices in Homecare Waiver, and may support participants enrolled in the Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver when coordinated with waiver services.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) – Home Health Services Section

Role: Licenses and monitors home health agencies for clinical and safety compliance

Agency: Arkansas Medicaid / Division of Medical Services (DMS)

Role: Handles Medicaid enrollment, authorization, and reimbursement for home health services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Ensures home health services comply with federal healthcare and Medicaid rules

2. HOME HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Home Health Services include skilled nursing, therapies, and medical social work delivered to a participant’s home. Services are ordered by a physician and are typically short-term, rehabilitative, or preventive in nature.

Approved providers may deliver:

Skilled nursing (e.g., medication administration, wound care, catheter care)
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) services under RN supervision
Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) support
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy (as authorized)
Medical social services (as needed)
Ongoing clinical documentation and communication with physicians

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Arkansas Secretary of State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Apply for licensure through the Arkansas Department of Health as a Home Health Agency
Obtain Medicare certification (optional but common)
Enroll as a Medicaid provider via the Arkansas Medicaid Portal
Hire licensed RNs, LPNs, therapists, and aides
Maintain professional and general liability insurance

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: ADH Home Health Licensure

Submit agency application, policies, and staff credentials
Complete onsite inspection and documentation review

Step 2: Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Apply through the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal
Submit W-9, EFT setup, license, and business information
Select “Home Health Services” as your provider type

Step 3: Medicare Certification (optional)

Apply for CMS certification for dual-billing capabilities (if serving Medicare beneficiaries)

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
Home Health Agency License (ADH)
Medicaid enrollment approval
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Physician order management and care planning
- Skilled nursing, aide services, and therapy protocols
- Staff onboarding and licensure tracking
- Medication management and safety standards
- Infection control and universal precautions
- HIPAA compliance, patient rights, and consent forms
- Visit documentation and physician communication logs
- Incident reporting and quality assurance tools

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Director of Nursing / Administrator

Requirements: Arkansas RN license with administrative experience

Role: Registered Nurse (RN)

Requirements: Active Arkansas license, CPR certification, home health experience preferred

Role: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Requirements: Must operate under RN supervision

Role: Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA)

Requirements: ADH-approved training, background check, and supervision by a nurse

Optional Roles:

Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Speech Therapist
Medical Social Worker

Training Requirements for All Staff:

Infection control, patient safety, and clinical documentation
Emergency procedures and care plan implementation
Annual licensure and skills reviews

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Home Health Services are primarily funded through:

Arkansas Medicaid State Plan
ARChoices in Homecare Waiver
CES Waiver (in limited coordination with other services)

Approved providers may deliver:

Intermittent, in-home skilled medical care
Short-term rehab and recovery support
Long-term nursing and aide services (with pre-authorization)
Documentation and coordination with care teams and primary care providers

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business FormationTimeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: ADH Home Health License ApplicationTimeline: 60–90 days

Phase: Medicaid EnrollmentTimeline: 30–60 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Medicare Certification (optional)Timeline: 45–60 days

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Arkansas Department of Health – Home Health Services Section

Phone: (501) 661-2201

Website: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov

Arkansas Department of Human Services – Division of Medical Services (DMS)

Email: ask.medicaid@arkansas.gov

Website: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/about-dhs/dms

Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal

Website: https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — ARKANSAS HOME HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER

We support agencies in launching fully licensed and Medicaid-compliant Home Health Services across Arkansas, from licensing to clinical documentation systems.

Scope of Work:

Business registration (LLC, EIN, NPI)
ADH licensing and Medicaid enrollment support
Policy & procedure manual for clinical and home-based care
Templates for physician orders, RN notes, aide logs, and medication sheets
Website, domain, and email setup
Staff credentialing trackers and supervision logs
Client intake packet, consent forms, and plan of care templates
Incident reporting systems and audit preparation tools
Referral networking with hospitals, primary care offices, and waiver case managers