Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Division 06 - Medical Services
Rule 016.06.06-008 - DDS Alternative Community Services (ACS) Provider Manual Update Transmittal # 60
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
Section II DDS Alternative Community Services (ACS) Waiver
The DDS Alternative Community Services (ACS) Waiver allows a provider who is licensed and certified as a DDS ACS case manager or a DDS ACS supportive living services provider to enroll in the Arkansas Medicaid Program as a DDS ACS organized health care delivery system (OHCDS) provider.
As long as the OHCDS provides at least one waiver service, an OHCDS provider may provide any other DDS ACS Waiver service via a sub-contract with an entity qualified to furnish the service.
The OHCDS provider furnishes the services as the individual's provider of choice as described in that individual's multi-agency plan of services (MAPS). The OHCDS provider must adhere to DDS ACS Waiver regulations as outlined in this provider manual. The OHCDS assumes all liability for services provided and/or performed by a sub-contracted entity.
I 210.000 PROGRAM COVERAGE
The Arkansas Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) offers certain home and community based services as an alternative to institutionalization. These services are available for eligible individuals with a developmental disability who would otherwise require an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR) level of care. The home and community based services to be provided through this waiver are described herein as the DDS Alternative Community Services Waiver Renewal, hereafter referred to as DDS ACS Waiver.
As stated in the DDS ACS Waiver, "waiver services will not be furnished to persons while they are inpatients of a hospital, Nursing Facility (NF), or Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) unless payment to the hospital, NF, or ICF/MR is being made through private pay or private insurance."
Services provided under this program are as follows:
Only hired caregivers may be reimbursed for supportive living services provided.
Payments for supportive living services will not be made to the parent, stepparent or legal guardian of a person less than 18 years old.
Payments will not be made to a spouse.
The payments for these services exclude the costs of room and board, including general maintenance, upkeep or improvement to the individual's own home or that of his or her family.
Routine care and supervision for which payment will not be made are defined as those activities that are necessary to assure a person's well being but are not activities that directly relate to active treatment goals and objectives.
See section 270.000 for billing information.
Community experiences services are a flexible array of supports designed to allow individuals to gain experience and abilities that will prevent institutionalization. Through this broad base of learning opportunities, participants will identify, pursue and gain skills and abilities in activities that reflect their interests.
This model helps to improve community acceptance, employment opportunities and general well-being. The services are preventive, therapeutic, diagnostic and habilitative and will create an environment that will promote a person's optimal functioning.
The model also teaches developmental and living skills in the natural environment or clinic setting to ensure maximum learning and generalization. The services focus on enabling the person to attain or maintain his or her potential functional level and must be coordinated with any physical, occupational or speech therapies listed in the plan of care. These services reinforce skills or lessons taught in school, therapy or other settings.
When supports are provided in a clinic setting and the individual receives four or more hours of support, a noon meal is included in the service.
Services include activities and supports to accomplish individual goals or learning areas, including recreation and/or for specific training or leisure activities. To participate in community experiences activities, an individualized plan of treatment is required. Each activity is then adapted according to the participant's needs. Activities DDS may approve under this service include but are not limited to:
See section 270.000 for billing information.
Case management services refer to a system of ongoing monitoring of the provision of services included in the waiver participant's multi-agency plan of service (MAPS). Case managers initiate and oversee the process of assessment of the individual's level of care and the review of MAPS at specified reassessment intervals.
Case management services include responsibility for locating, coordinating and monitoring:
The intent of case management services is to enable waiver participants to receive a full range of appropriate services in a planned, coordinated, efficient and effective manner.
Case management services consist of the following activities:
Service gaps of thirty (30) consecutive days must be reported to the DDS Specialist assigned to the case with a copy of the report sent to the DDS Program Director. The report must include the reason for the gap and identify remedial action to be taken.
Case management services are optional for some level categories and are available at three service levels. They are:
The level is determined by the needs or options of the person receiving waiver services as defined in sections 230.000 through 230.300.
See section 270.000 for billing information.
Coverage is provided within three service levels. Service levels are defined as pervasive, extensive and limited.
The pervasive service level is defined as needs that require constant supports provided across environments that are potentially life sustaining in nature. Supports are intrusive and long term and include a combination of any available waiver supports provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year with case management at the highest level (minimum of one personal visit and one other contact monthly). Sublevels are:
The extensive service level is defined as needs that require daily supports in one or more of a work, home or community environment. Supports are less intrusive than supports that may be needed daily but less than 24 hours per day or 7 days a week. Supports are long-term and may require intermittent, short-term crisis intervention in response to episodic behavior needs.
Supports include habilitation, residential habilitation reinforcement and other assisted living waiver services based upon individual needs. Case management is available at a reduced level of minimally one visit or contact per month.
The limited service level is defined as supports that are anticipated to be for the foreseeable future. They are individually time-limited and may be intermittent in nature and are subject to re-evaluation every 12 months. This level of support requires that parental support, group settings and community assistance be available to the individual.
Intermittent and time-limited supports are supports for primary caregiver relief, employment training, transitional supports, crisis behavior management and assisted living supports.
Case management for this Level I is a minimum of one visit per quarter. When case management is not chosen as a service component there must be a willing, responsible adult to assume all case management functions. Sublevels are:
Supported living arrangements: Provided for beneficiaries of DDS-funded supported living arrangements. General revenue must be available and in use for the existing service level with supporting general revenue to be used for the payment of Medicaid match in order for waiver conversion to occur. There are two categories of supported living arrangements:
In the supported living arrangement model, care is provided in DDS-supported living arrangements, in supported living apartments, in home and in group homes up to (but not inclusive of) 15 beds.
Supported living, community experiences, respite, waiver coordination and non-medical transportation are available for one rate of reimbursement with at least one service component being provided on at least 15 days each month for the moderate level or at least 10 days each month for the minimum level.
Under this model, the provider must deliver the service level needed regardless of minimum service provision requirements. Case management, crisis center and crisis intervention is available and payable in addition to the monthly rates.
Living arrangements include:
Exception: Only those supportive living apartments and group homes licensed by the DDS prior to July 1, 1995, are approved to serve more than 4 adults. No expansions will be approved beyond the July 1, 1995, total capacity (waiver and non-waiver).
Justification must, at a minimum:
ACS Waiver Program services require prior authorization by the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. In the absence of prior authorization, reimbursement will be denied and will not be approved retroactively.
For the purpose of plan of care and service approvals, DDS, a Division under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Medicaid authority.
A provider may request reconsideration of a program decision by writing to the Assistant Director, Division of Medical Services. This request must be received within 20 calendar days following the application of policy and/or procedure or the notification of the provider of its rate. Upon receipt of the request for review, the Assistant Director will determine the need for a program and/or provider conference and will contact the provider to arrange a conference if needed. Regardless of the program decision, the provider will be afforded the opportunity for a
conference, if he or she wishes, for a full explanation of the factors involved and the Program decision. Following review, the Assistant Director will notify the provider of the action to be taken by the division within 20 calendar days of receipt of the request for review or the date of the program and/or provider conference.
When the provider disagrees with the decision made by the Assistant Director of the Division of Medical Services, the provider may appeal the question to a standing Rate Review Panel established by the Director of the Division of Medical Services. The rate review panel will include one member of the Division of Medical Services, a representative of the provider association and a member of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) management staff, who will serve as chairperson.
The request for review by the rate review panel must be postmarked within 15 calendar days following the notification of the initial decision by the Assistant Director of the Division of Medical Services. The rate review panel will meet to consider the question(s) within 15 calendar days after receipt of a request for such appeal. The panel will hear the questions and a recommendation will be submitted to the Director of the Division of Medical Services.
The following procedure codes and any associated modifier(s) must be billed for DDS ACS Waiver Services. Prior authorization is required for all services.
Procedure Code |
M1 |
M2 |
PA |
Description |
Unit of Service |
POS for Paper Claims |
POS for Electronic Claims |
A0080 |
Y |
ACS Non-Medical Transportation |
1 Year |
0 |
99 |
||
H2016 |
Y |
ACS Supportive Living (Individual) |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
H2016 |
UB |
Y |
ACS Supportive Living (Group) |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
|
H20231 |
Y |
Supported Employment |
15 Minutes |
0 |
99 |
||
S5151 |
Y |
ACS Respite Care |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T2020 |
Y |
Community Experiences |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T2020 |
UA |
Y |
Supplemental Support Services |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
|
T2022 |
Y |
Case Management Services |
1 Month |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T2024 |
Y |
ACS Waiver Coordination |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T20252 |
Y |
Consultation Services |
1 Hour |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T20283 |
Y |
ACS Specialized Medical Supplies |
1 Year |
4, 0 |
12, 99 |
||
T2034 |
Y |
Crisis Center |
1 Year |
0, 4 |
99, 12 |
||
T20344 |
U1 |
UA |
Y |
ACS Crisis Intervention Services |
1 Hour |
0, 4 |
99, 12 |
A breakdown of the supported employment units of service includes:
One unit = 15 minutes to 21 minutes Two units = 22 minutes to 37 minutes Three units = 38 minutes to 52 minutes Four units = 53 minutes to 67 minutes
The following list contains the procedure codes used for ACS physical adaptations. Physical adaptations have a benefit limit of $7500 per year.
Procedure Code |
M1 |
M2 |
PA |
Description |
POS for Paper Claims |
POS for Electronic Claims |
K0108 |
Y |
***(ACS environmental modifications) Other accessories |
4 |
12 |
||
S5160 |
Y |
***(Adaptive equipment, personal emergency response system [PERS], installation and testing) Emergency response system; installation and testing |
4 |
12 |
||
S5161 |
Y |
***(Adaptive equipment, personal emergency response system [PERS], service fee, per month, excludes installation and testing) Emergency response system; service fee, per month (excludes installation and testing) |
4 |
12 |
||
S5162 |
Y |
***(Adaptive equipment, personal emergency response system [PERS], purchase only) Emergency response system; purchase only |
4 |
12 |
||
S5165 |
U1 |
Y |
***(ACS adaptive equipment) Home modifications, per service |
4 |
12 |
[GREATER THAN]&(...) This symbol, along with text in parentheses, indicates the Arkansas Medicaid description of the product.
Refer to section 272.200 for definitions of the place of service codes listed above.