PERSONAL CARE SERVICES PROVIDER IN ARKANSAS

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 7
3 min read

SUPPORTING DAILY LIVING THROUGH IN-HOME ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, CHRONIC CONDITIONS, OR AGE-RELATED NEEDS

Personal Care Services in Arkansas provide non-medical, hands-on assistance with daily living activities for individuals who are elderly, physically disabled, or have developmental conditions. These services are authorized under the Arkansas Medicaid State Plan and certain Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programs. The goal is to help individuals remain safely in their homes and prevent institutionalization.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) – Office of Long-Term Care (OLTC)

Role: Regulates personal care agencies and monitors service compliance

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

Role: Handles Medicaid enrollment and reimbursement for personal care services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight of Medicaid-funded personal care programs

2. PERSONAL CARE SERVICE OVERVIEW

Personal Care Services offer in-home support to help individuals manage everyday tasks they are unable to perform independently due to health conditions or disabilities. Services are tailored to individual needs and may be provided intermittently or on a regular schedule.

Approved providers may deliver:

Assistance with bathing, grooming, and dressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Mobility assistance (e.g., walking, transferring, positioning)
Meal preparation and feeding
Basic housekeeping tasks essential to health
Medication reminders (non-administration)
Monitoring of general well-being and reporting of changes

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 a Home Care Agency License through the Arkansas Department of Health
Complete the Medicaid provider enrollment process
Hire qualified personal care aides and clinical supervisors
Maintain general liability and worker’s compensation insurance
Develop compliant documentation and tracking systems

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Licensing through Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)

Apply for a home care agency license
Submit policies, staff roster, infection control procedures, and training program
Pass on-site inspection and administrative review

Step 2: Medicaid Enrollment

Apply via the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal
Submit required documentation and provider agreements
Receive approval and provider number

Step 3: Referral Coordination

Connect with case managers or local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to begin receiving client authorizations

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
Home care agency license
Medicaid enrollment documentation
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Intake and assessment process
- ADL support documentation
- Care plan implementation and progress tracking
- Staff hiring, training, and supervision logs
- Participant rights and confidentiality policies
- Incident reporting and grievance handling
- Quality assurance and supervisory visit forms
- Billing logs and timesheet verification procedures

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Personal Care Supervisor (RN or LPN)

Requirements: Licensed in Arkansas, responsible for training, client assessments, and supervision

Role: Personal Care Aide (PCA)

Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent
Completion of DHS-approved PCA training
CPR/First Aid certification
Background check and registry clearance

Training Requirements for All Staff:

ADL assistance and client safety protocols
Infection control and proper lifting techniques
Confidentiality, abuse prevention, and mandatory reporting
Annual skills review and continuing education

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Personal Care Services are available under:

Arkansas Medicaid State Plan Personal Care Program
ARChoices in Homecare Waiver
Independent Choices Program
Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver (in conjunction with other supports)

Approved providers may deliver: