CMS is approving this time-limited state plan amendment (SPA) to respond to the COVID-19 national emergency. The purpose of this amendment is to increase reimbursement for gloves used for in home services. Gloves provided as a medical supply for use in the home will be reimbursed based on 100% of the reimbursement by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arkansas.

Effective June 1, 2021, this amendment updates the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) fee schedules and requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to provide NEMT services to their Medicaid managed care members. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will continue to provide NEMT to Medicaid recipients in fee-for-service but will no longer use a transportation broker model.

Effective January 1, 2021, this amendment updates the Non-Institutional Payment Schedules for 2021. 

Effective July 1, 2020, this amendment increases the number of FTEs for the states Graduate Medical Education (GME) program which will provide access to care in more rural areas of the state. Both public and private hospitals will be allowed to participate. 

Effective January 1, 2021, this amendment changes the methodology and thresholds for determining cost-effectiveness for Medicaid Estate Recovery and clarifies the definition of "recoverable medical assistance."

This amendment revises the quarterly nursing home supplemental payment, also known as MQIP, for dates of
service in the quarter ending March 31, 2021.

Effective January 1, 2021, this amendment incorporates various 2021 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) updates, updated the reimbursement methodology to 100% of the January 2021 Medicare Average Sales Price (ASP) Drug Pricing file for physician-administered drugs, immune globulins, vaccines and toxoids and made technical updates to the Person-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program.

Effective July 30, 2021, this amendment revises the frequency of the state's cost of dispensing survey from specifying that it will occur every two years to noting that it will occur periodically.