Arkansas Medicaid Waiver Guide

What is Arkansas Medicaid?

Arkansas currently has three programs that are open to children. Two are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers and one is a TEFRA-like program. While the TEFRA-like program and Autism waiver waive parental income, we do not know whether the Community and Employment Support (formerly ACS) waiver counts parent income or not.

Applying for the Waiver

TEFRA – like

Description: Provides Medicaid coverage only. This waiver is identical to a TEFRA program except that it allows the state to charge a sliding-scale family fee to middle and upper income families. See this page for further information on family fees and guidelines.
Online State Information: TEFRA for Children
Official Federal Information
How to Apply: Follow the directions on this application page or apply at your DHS county office.
Waiting List: none

Community and Employment Support

Description from medicaid.gov: Provides respite, supported employment, supportive living, specialized medical supplies, adaptive equipment, community transition services, consultation, environmental modifications, and supplemental support services for individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities, ages 0 to no maximum age.
Online State Information: Waiver Services
Official Federal Information
How to Apply: To apply, call 501-683-5687or submit a referral online.
Waiting List: There are 1670 individuals with ID/DD and 50 with autism on Arkansas’ waiting lists.

Autism Waiver

Description from medicaid.gov:Provides consultative clinical and therapeutic services, individual assessment/treatment development/monitoring, lead therapy intervention, line therapy intervention, and therapeutic aides and behavioral reinforcers to individuals with autism ages 1-7 years who meet an ICF/IID level of care.
Online State Information: Arkansas Autism Partnership and this brochure entitled Arkansas Autism Partnership for more information.
Official Federal Information
How to Apply: Call 800-342-2923 or download the application.
Waiting List: There are 1670 individuals with ID/DD and 50 with autism on Arkansas’ waiting lists.
Advocacy/Support Group: Arkansas Autism

Other online resources for Arkansas:

Ordering Goally with a Medicaid Waiver

If you have been approved for a Medicaid Waiver, please have your case manager email us at: [email protected] to place an order on your behalf.

Who Can Apply?

Circumstances/Diagnosis: Children ages 18 months to 8 years with autism are eligible. The state requires that individuals need an intermediate care facility level of care to qualify. This just means that the individual is unable to get through their day without a lot of supervision.
Income:Income eligibility is only based on the child’s income and not the parents income. This means that your child is financially eligible for the waiver if they don’t have an income.

What do I get?

You get 20-25 hours of behavioral and therapeutic services every week. Parent training is included in the package.Care Coordination, Supported Living Services, Non-Medical Transportation, Adaptive Equipment, Environmental Modifications, Supplemental Support Services, Consultation Services, supported employment, and Crisis Intervention Services.

How do I apply?

You can also call 800-342-2923 to get additional information on the process
Call your county’s Department of Human Services Office

This post was originally published on 02/16/2021. It was updated on 03/13/2025.