HJAR Jul/Aug 2021

30 JUL / AUG 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS MEDICAID COLUMN MEDICAID TRADITIONALLY, children enrolled inArkan- sas Medicaid receive a muchmore expanded benefit package. This is due to the federal mandate under Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) that all medically necessary services for children be funded by the State MedicaidAgency. Adults in Arkansas Medicaid have always had a much more limited benefit package. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the forefront how important access to primary care services is for Arkansans of all ages. In response, Arkansas Medicaid worked with the Legislature during the 2021 Session to implement policy changes that will increase access to primary care services for adults onArkansas Medicaid. New changes that we expect to have a big impact on the delivery of primary care services include increased occupational therapy while at home. During the 2021 session, the Legislature amended the Arkansas telemedicine stat- ute to permanently allow for services to be provided in the patient’s home and to use audio-only technology in appropriate cir- cumstances. Arkansas Medicaid is perma- nently adopting these rules, as well as al- lowing PCPs to establish provider-patient relationships using telemedicine technology. These changes are already in place, under the authority of the statute, with permanent rule changes coming later in the fall and winter. Pharmacy ‘slot’ limit Act 758 of the 2021 General Assembly in- creases the pharmacy “slot” limit for adults on Arkansas Medicaid from three prescrip- tions per month to six. This will allow adults Planned Changes to ARKANSAS MEDICAID availability of telemedicine service, expanded pharmacy benefits as well as laboratory and X-ray limits, and an increase in primary care provider (PCP) visits each year. Telemedicine During the pandemic, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-05, which allowed physicians and certain behav- ioral health providers to use telemedicine, including telephone only, to deliver services. His order even allowed these professionals to establish a provider-patient relationship using telemedicine technologies. In line with this executive order, Arkansas Medicaid re- laxed many telemedicine rules to allow cli- ents to access services such as counseling, medical services and skill development therapies including speech, physical and