Therapy services help children and adults to develop and maintain needed strength and skills that help with independence and quality of life.

• Physical therapy assists with physical activities, mobility, balance, and strength.
• Occupational therapy assists with fine motor activities, sensory coping skills, cognitive planning and decision-making, and self-care skills.
• Speech therapy assists with a person’s ability communicate with others, to understand communication from others, and to eat or swallow.

The Arkansas Medicaid Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy Program covers therapy services for Medicaid-eligible individuals:

• under the age of 21 in the Child Health Services Early Periodic Screening Diagnostic Treatment (EPSDT) Program
• aged 21 and older are only covered when provided through the following Medicaid Programs: 
  • Adult Developmental Day Treatment (ADDT)
  • Hospital/Critical Access Hospital (CAH)
  • Rehabilitative Hospital
  • Home Health
  • Hospice and Physician

The client’s primary care physician (PCP) or attending physician must refer the client for assessment for occupational, physical, or speech therapy services. Treatment services must be provided according to a written prescription signed by the PCP, or the attending physician. To establish medical necessity, a comprehensive assessment in the suspected area of deficit must be performed.

When a school district is providing therapy services in accordance with a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), a PCP referral is required at the beginning of each school year.  The PCP referral for the therapy services related to the IEP can be for the 9‑month school year.