Arkansas - Housing Stabilization — Licensing, Medicaid Enrollment and Startup Requirements

Last reviewed: 2026-09-09

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) does not license or enroll providers under a standalone "Housing Stabilization" Medicaid service category. Instead, tenancy support, housing search, application assistance, and landlord mediation are funded through the ARHOME 1115 Demonstration Waiver under the Life360 HOMEs program (specifically Success Life360) and through the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) managed care system as components of Care Coordination or Supportive Living.

Approval to deliver these housing supports requires entities to first be designated by DHS as a Life360 HOME or partner agency, or to enroll as an Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OBHS) or Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider and secure network contracts with one of the active PASSEs. Providers must submit enrollment applications through the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal using form DMS-652 and undergo credentialing by the respective managed care organizations before billing for tenancy supports.

1. Service Definition and Scope

Because Arkansas lacks a distinct Housing Stabilization service, tenancy supports are embedded within broader care coordination and supportive living definitions. Under the ARHOME Life360 HOMEs initiative, these services focus on health-related social needs (HRSN) for at-risk populations, including young adults and pregnant women.

Within the PASSE system, housing navigation and retention are delivered as part of the Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver or 1915(i) behavioral health services, aimed at preventing institutionalization and maintaining community integration.

• Service Vehicle 1: ARHOME Success Life360 HOMEs intensive care coordination.
• Service Vehicle 2: PASSE Care Coordination and Supportive Living.
• Covered Activity: Assisting beneficiaries with housing applications and navigating local housing authority requirements.
• Covered Activity: Landlord mediation and developing individualized housing retention plans.
• Excluded Costs: Direct payment of rent, room and board, or utility deposits (unless specifically authorized under a distinct HRSN waiver amendment).
• Target Population: ARHOME targets young adults at risk of long-term poverty; PASSE targets individuals with Tier 2 or Tier 3 behavioral health or IDD needs.

2. Regulatory and Oversight Agencies

Medicaid services in Arkansas are overseen by the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Division of Medical Services (DMS) manages the Medicaid state plan, waivers, and the ARHOME program.

The Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance (DPSQA) handles the certification and licensure of HCBS and behavioral health providers who ultimately deliver these housing supports.

• Umbrella Agency: Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov)
• Medicaid Authority: DHS Division of Medical Services (DMS) (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/)
• Licensing Authority: DHS Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance (DPSQA) (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/provider-services-quality-assurance/)
• Managed Care Oversight: Office of the PASSE (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/healthcare-programs/passe/)
• Enrollment Vendor: Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment (Gainwell Technologies) (https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov)

3. Gatekeeping Prerequisites: Who Can Even Apply

Arkansas utilizes a heavily managed and designated system for housing-related supports. A provider cannot simply enroll as a housing stabilization agency; they must meet structural preconditions tied to the specific funding vehicle.

For ARHOME, providers must go through a specific designation process. For PASSE beneficiaries, providers must secure a network contract with a managed care organization, which is contingent on network adequacy needs.

• PASSE Network Contracting: Providers must secure a contract with at least one PASSE (e.g., Arkansas Total Care, CareSource PASSE, Empower Healthcare Solutions, Summit Community Care) to serve behavioral health or IDD populations.
• Life360 Designation: To provide ARHOME housing supports, the entity must be an acute care hospital designated by DHS as a Life360 HOME, or a formally contracted partner agency of a designated hospital.
• Base Certification Prerequisite: Entities must hold an active certification from DPSQA as an HCBS provider or an Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OBHS) provider before Medicaid enrollment.
• NPI Requirement: A valid National Provider Identifier (NPI) is required prior to initiating the DMS-652 application.

4. Licensure and Certification Requirements

There is no "Housing Stabilization" license in Arkansas. Providers must obtain the licensure or certification appropriate to the broader service category they are billing under, typically HCBS or OBHS.

DPSQA conducts the certification reviews, ensuring agencies have the necessary administrative, financial, and clinical structures to support vulnerable populations in the community.

• HCBS Certification: Required for agencies providing Supportive Living under the CES waiver.
• OBHS Certification: Required for agencies providing behavioral health care coordination.
• Financial Viability: Applicants must demonstrate financial stability, often requiring a line of credit or specific liability insurance minimums during the DPSQA certification process.
• Policy Manual: Must submit a comprehensive policy manual detailing client rights, grievance procedures, and emergency backup staffing plans.

5. Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Once certified by DPSQA or designated as a Life360 partner, agencies must enroll through the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal (MMIS).

The enrollment process requires specific state forms, primarily the DMS-652 and the ownership disclosure form, to establish the provider record and enable PASSE credentialing.

• Enrollment Portal: Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal (https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov)
• Primary Application: Form DMS-652 (Arkansas Medicaid Provider Application).
• Contract Form: Form DMS-653 (Arkansas Medicaid Provider Contract).
• Disclosure Form: Form DMS-675 (Ownership and Conviction Disclosure) required per 42 CFR §455.104.
• Tax Documentation: W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.
• Application Fee: Subject to the federal Medicaid institutional provider application fee unless waived by Medicare enrollment.

6. Staffing, Training and Background Checks

Staff providing housing navigation and tenancy support must meet the qualifications of the overarching service (e.g., Care Coordinator, Qualified Behavioral Health Provider, or Direct Support Professional).

Arkansas mandates strict background checks for all personnel interacting with Medicaid beneficiaries, processed through the Arkansas State Police and DHS.

• Background Checks: Statewide criminal background check and sex offender registry check required for all owners, administrators, and direct care staff.
• Child/Adult Maltreatment: Registry checks required through the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry and Adult Abuse Registry.
• Staff Qualifications (PASSE): Care Coordinators typically require a bachelor's degree in a human services field or equivalent experience.
• Staff Qualifications (Life360): Coaches or navigators must complete DHS-approved training specific to health-related social needs and trauma-informed care.
• CPR/First Aid: Direct service workers must maintain current CPR and basic first aid certification.

7. Documentation, Policies and Records

Providers must maintain detailed records demonstrating that housing supports are medically necessary and tied to the beneficiary's overarching care goals.

All tenancy support activities must be explicitly documented in the beneficiary's Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP) developed by the PASSE care coordinator or Life360 HOME.

• Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP): Housing goals and authorized support hours must be documented in the PCSP.
• Housing Assessment: A standardized assessment of the beneficiary's housing history, barriers, and preferences.
• Encounter Notes: Daily or per-visit documentation detailing the specific housing search or retention activity performed, duration, and outcome.
• Retention Plan: A written crisis intervention and landlord mediation plan for beneficiaries at risk of eviction.
• Record Retention: Arkansas Medicaid requires providers to retain all clinical and billing records for a minimum of five years from the date of service.

8. Billing, Rates and Claims

Because these services are managed through waivers and managed care, providers do not bill Arkansas Medicaid fee-for-service for housing stabilization.

Claims are submitted directly to the contracted PASSE or the Life360 HOME lead hospital, using the procedure codes and negotiated rates specified in the provider's network contract.

• Payer: Claims are submitted to the beneficiary's assigned PASSE (e.g., Arkansas Total Care) or the Life360 HOME entity.
• Procedure Codes: Typically billed under Care Coordination (e.g., T1016) or Supportive Living codes (e.g., T2017), depending on the PASSE contract.
• Rate Setting: Rates are negotiated between the provider and the PASSE, though DHS establishes minimum fee schedules for certain waiver services.
• Prior Authorization: All housing support activities require prior authorization from the PASSE based on the approved PCSP.
• Claim Format: Billed using the CMS-1500 format or 837P electronic transaction to the managed care clearinghouse.

9. Approval Sequence and Timeline

The pathway to delivering housing supports involves multiple sequential approvals, starting with state certification and ending with managed care credentialing.

The entire process from initial DPSQA application to active PASSE contracting can take 6 to 9 months.

• Step 1: Obtain appropriate base certification (HCBS or OBHS) from DHS DPSQA (90-120 days).
• Step 2: Submit Medicaid enrollment application (DMS-652) via the MMIS portal (30-60 days).
• Step 3: Receive Arkansas Medicaid Provider ID.
• Step 4: Apply for network inclusion and credentialing with one or more PASSEs (90-120 days).
• Step 5: Receive PASSE contract execution and begin accepting authorizations.

10. Common Denials and Survey Findings

Applications are frequently delayed or denied due to incomplete ownership disclosures or failure to secure the necessary base certifications before applying to Medicaid.

During DPSQA surveys, providers often face citations for inadequate documentation of service delivery or failure to follow emergency backup plans.

• Enrollment Denial: Failure to submit a complete DMS-675 Ownership and Conviction Disclosure form.
• Enrollment Denial: Applying for Medicaid enrollment without first obtaining the required DPSQA certification.
• Credentialing Denial: PASSE network is closed or the provider fails to meet the PASSE's specific credentialing criteria.
• Survey Citation: Encounter notes lack specific details connecting the activity to the housing goals in the PCSP.
• Survey Citation: Missing or expired background checks for direct care staff.

11. Key Contacts and Resources

Prospective providers should utilize the DHS website and the MMIS portal for official manuals, forms, and program updates.

Direct communication with the PASSEs is essential for understanding network needs and contracting requirements for housing supports.

• Arkansas Medicaid Provider Enrollment: (800) 457-4454 or (501) 376-2211 (https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov)
• DHS Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance (DPSQA): (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/provider-services-quality-assurance/)
• ARHOME Life360 HOMEs Information: (https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/healthcare-programs/arhome/)
• Arkansas Total Care (PASSE): (https://www.arkansastotalcare.com)
• Empower Healthcare Solutions (PASSE): (https://www.getempowerhealth.com)

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