Arkansas - Adult Health Transportation — Licensing, Medicaid Enrollment and Startup Requirements

Last reviewed: 2026-09-09

Arkansas Medicaid funds Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) through a capitated selective contract waiver managed by regional brokers, rather than through direct fee-for-service enrollment for general adult health transportation. The Division of Medical Services (DMS) oversees these broker contracts, which divide the state into distinct regions managed by entities like Modivcare, Verida, and the Central Arkansas Development Council.

Prospective transportation companies cannot simply enroll as independent Medicaid NET providers; they must successfully negotiate a subcontract with the designated broker for their specific county. Once a broker approves a subcontractor, the provider must still complete the formal Arkansas Medicaid enrollment process via the MMIS Provider Portal using forms DMS-652 and DMS-653 to receive a Medicaid ID for encounter tracking.

1. Service Definition and Scope

NET in Arkansas covers rides to and from Medicaid-covered services for eligible beneficiaries who have no other means of transport. The service operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with mandatory accommodations for critical care like chemotherapy, radiation, and dialysis.

Brokers and their subcontracted providers must adhere to strict scheduling and wait-time protocols to ensure beneficiaries reach their medical appointments safely and on time.

• Target Population: Medicaid or ARKids First-A beneficiaries lacking other transportation.
• Excluded Populations: Nursing home residents, ICF/IID residents, Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB), and ARKids First-B.
• Trip Limits: No hard limit on the number of trips or miles for medically necessary covered services.
• Scheduling Window: Beneficiaries must request rides at least 72 hours (three full business days) in advance.
• Wait Times: Drivers are required to wait 15 minutes at the pickup location before departing.

2. Regulatory and Oversight Agencies

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) manages the NET program through its Division of Medical Services (DMS). DMS holds the capitated contracts with the regional brokers and sets the overarching rules for Medicaid provider enrollment.

The regional brokers act as the direct oversight entities for their subcontracted transportation providers, handling dispatch, credentialing, and claims payment.

• Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS): https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/
• Division of Medical Services (DMS): https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/
• Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal (MMIS): https://medicaid.afmc.org/
• Modivcare (Regional Broker): https://www.modivcare.com/
• Verida (Regional Broker): https://verida.com/arkansas-providers/

3. Gatekeeping Prerequisites: Who Can Even Apply

Arkansas operates NET under a closed-network broker model. Independent transportation companies are structurally blocked from billing Medicaid directly for general adult NET services.

To participate, a provider must be accepted into the network of the specific broker managing their geographic region.

• Broker Subcontracting Requirement: Applicants must secure a contract with the designated regional broker (e.g., Modivcare, Verida) before providing general NET services.
• Capitated Selective Contract Waiver: The federal authority that allows Arkansas to restrict NET provider participation to the broker network.
• DDTCS Exception: Providers transporting exclusively to Developmental Day Treatment Clinic Services (DDTCS) may enroll directly as fee-for-service providers without a broker contract.
• Regional Assignment: Providers must operate within the specific county zones awarded to their contracting broker.

4. Licensure and Certification Requirements

Arkansas does not issue a distinct "Adult Health Transportation" license for standard NET providers. Instead, providers must meet the credentialing standards set by their regional broker and maintain standard commercial transportation credentials.

Brokers conduct their own vehicle inspections and business credentialing processes before allowing a provider to join the network.

• Business License: Standard local and state business registration with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
• Vehicle Registration: Commercial registration for all transport vehicles through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
• Commercial Insurance: Minimum liability coverage levels dictated by the specific regional broker contract.
• Broker Credentialing: Successful completion of the broker's proprietary network application and vehicle inspection process.

5. Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Even as broker subcontractors, NET providers must enroll in the Arkansas Medicaid program to obtain a Medicaid ID for encounter data submission. This is processed through the MMIS Provider Portal.

The Division of Medical Services requires specific forms to establish the provider record and link it to the broker's encounter claims.

• Form DMS-652: The official Arkansas Medicaid Provider Application.
• Form DMS-653: The Arkansas Medicaid Provider Contract.
• Form W-9: Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.
• Application Fee: $750 federal Medicaid application fee (unless waived or paid to Medicare/another state).
• Portal Submission: Applications are submitted electronically via the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal.

6. Staffing, Training and Background Checks

Driver qualifications are enforced by the regional brokers in compliance with DMS standards. Drivers must pass background screenings and maintain clean driving records.

Brokers may impose additional training requirements, such as defensive driving or passenger assistance techniques, depending on the contract terms.

• Driver Licensing: Valid Arkansas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle class operated.
• Background Checks: Criminal history and Medicaid exclusion list (OIG LEIE) screenings required for all drivers.
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR): Continuous monitoring of driver MVRs for moving violations or suspensions.
• First Aid/CPR: Basic safety and emergency response training as mandated by the broker contract.

7. Documentation, Policies and Records

Providers must maintain strict trip documentation to support broker payments and Medicaid encounter claims. Records must be retained for audit by DMS or the broker.

Failure to produce accurate trip logs during a broker or state audit can result in immediate recoupment of funds.

• Trip Logs: Daily manifests detailing beneficiary name, Medicaid ID, pickup/drop-off times, and locations.
• Beneficiary Signatures: Proof of service delivery via physical or electronic signature from the rider.
• Vehicle Maintenance Logs: Routine inspection and repair records for all active transport vehicles.
• Record Retention: Medicaid standard requiring retention of all service and billing records for a minimum of five years.

8. Billing, Rates and Claims

Because NET is capitated, providers do not bill Arkansas Medicaid directly for general transports. Instead, they submit claims to their contracted regional broker based on negotiated rates.

The only exception is for DDTCS transports, which are billed directly to the state.

• Capitated Funding: DMS pays brokers a per-member-per-month rate; brokers pay providers per trip or per mile.
• Broker Claims Submission: Invoices and trip logs are submitted through the respective broker's proprietary portal (e.g., Modivcare or Verida provider portals).
• DDTCS Billing: The only exception where providers bill DMS directly via the MMIS portal for fee-for-service reimbursement.
• Payment Timelines: Dictated by the subcontract terms with the regional broker, typically bi-weekly or monthly.

9. Approval Sequence and Timeline

The path to becoming an active NET provider requires sequential approvals from the broker and the state. The timeline depends heavily on broker network need.

Providers should not purchase vehicles or hire staff until they have written confirmation of network need from the regional broker.

• Step 1: Submit a network participation inquiry to the regional broker managing the target counties.
• Step 2: Complete broker credentialing, including vehicle inspections and driver background checks (30-60 days).
• Step 3: Submit forms DMS-652 and DMS-653 to the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment Unit via the MMIS portal.
• Step 4: Receive Arkansas Medicaid ID and finalize the subcontract execution with the broker.

10. Common Denials and Survey Findings

Applications are most frequently rejected due to closed broker networks or incomplete Medicaid enrollment packets. Operational deficiencies usually center on vehicle safety or driver credentialing.

Brokers actively monitor network adequacy and will deny new applicants if the region is already saturated with transportation providers.

• Network Adequacy Denials: Brokers rejecting new subcontractors because the region already has sufficient transportation capacity.
• Incomplete DMS Forms: Failure to properly execute the DMS-653 Medicaid contract or missing W-9 information.
• Vehicle Inspection Failures: Vehicles lacking required safety equipment, proper signage, or functioning climate control.
• Driver Credential Lapses: Allowing drivers with expired licenses or failed background checks to perform transports.

11. Key Contacts and Resources

Providers must coordinate with both state agencies and their specific regional broker. The primary point of contact depends on whether the issue is Medicaid enrollment or trip dispatch.

For general program rules, the DMS provider manuals and the MMIS portal are the primary state resources.

• Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment Unit: Call (501) 376-2211 or (800) 457-4454.
• Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal: https://medicaid.afmc.org/
• NET Help Line: 1-888-987-1200 (Beneficiary and general program routing).
• Modivcare Provider Network: https://www.modivcare.com/
• Verida Provider Network: https://verida.com/arkansas-providers/

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