NOTE: Beneficiaries with questions about eligibility should contact the Division of County Operations.
Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE)
The Arkansas PASSE program (Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) is a Medicaid initiative designed to serve individuals with complex behavioral health needs and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Its main goal is to coordinate physical health, behavioral health, and specialized services for these members, ensuring they receive comprehensive, person-centered care.
The program aims to improve health outcomes, promote independence, and help individuals remain in their communities rather than institutional settings.
The goal of the PASSE system is to monitor member’s health care needs, keep them healthy, and help them reach goals. The Department of Human Services (DHS), Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) and each PASSE work together internally to address questions or concerns for providers and members about the PASSE program as they arise.
Key features of the PASSE program include:
- Care Coordination: Each member is assigned a care coordinator who helps manage their health services and supports.
- Person-Centered Service Plans: These plans are tailored to each individual’s preferences, goals, and medical needs.
- Integrated Services: PASSEs manage most Medicaid-covered services, including medical, behavioral, and home/community-based supports.
- Eligibility: Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled based on assessments identifying the need for behavioral health or developmental disability services and eligibility for full range Medicaid.
A Medicaid beneficiary’s services are managed and reimbursed by the PASSEs if the person:
- Is on the Developmental Disabilities Waiver which is called the Community and Employment Services (CES) Waiver.
- Is on the CES Waiver waitlist and receives Medicaid state plan services
- Lives in a private DD Intermediate Care Facility
- Has a Behavioral Health (BH) diagnosis and needs services in addition to counseling and medication management
- Has an active Independent Assessment (IA) that identifies the individual as Tier 2 or higher
Individuals with questions about Medicaid or PASSE eligibility should call the beneficiary support line at: 1-833-402-0672.
Independent Assessment and the Tier Logic
Medicaid beneficiaries may be enrolled in a PASSE if they have complex needs that require coordinated care. Eligibility is determined through the Arkansas Independent Assessment (IA), a standardized evaluation used to identify individuals who need intensive behavioral health or developmental disability services. Based on this assessment, individuals are assigned a Tier level, which reflects the complexity and intensity of their needs. To qualify for PASSE enrollment, individuals must be assessed as Tier 2 or higher, indicating a higher level of need. This includes individuals with behavioral health diagnoses requiring more than basic counseling or medication management, individuals receiving services through the Community and Employment Support (CES) waiver or currently on the CES waiver waitlist, and residents of private Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID). The IA ensures that only those who require comprehensive care coordination are enrolled in the PASSE program, allowing for more targeted and effective support.
Member Benefits
Each PASSE organization is required to provide enrolled members with medically necessary services that they are eligible for. PASSE members have access to all State Plan services and may also qualify for certain Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Examples of those services are listed below.
State Plan Services:
| Personal Care | Speech Therapy | Physical Therapy | Inpatient Psychiatric Services |
| Primary Care Physician | Physician Specialists | Nursing Services | Outpatient Behavioral Health Services |
| Durable Medical Equipment | Pharmacy | Family Planning | Health Counseling |
| Occupational Therapy | Hospital Services |
Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS):
| Respite | Community Transition Services | Adaptive Equipment |
| Supported Employment | Supplemental Support | Environmental Modifications |
| Supportive Living | Specialized Medical Supplies | Consultation |
| Supportive Housing | Adult Rehabilitation Day Treatment | Therapeutic Communities |
| Behavior Assistance | Child and Youth Support Services | Partial Hospitalization |
| Peer Support | Supportive Life Skills Development | Substance Abuse Detoxification |
| Family Support Partners | Mobile Crisis Intervention | Residential Community Reintegration |
| Pharmaceutical Counseling | Therapeutic Host Home | |
| Crisis Intervention | Recovery Support Partners |
PASSE Quality Rating
In accordance with Act 962 of 2025, all PASSE organizations must have a basic quality rating system that is accessible online that includes ratings for each risk-based provider organization based on measures that are collected by the PASSE. Below please find the links to the quality rating system for each PASSE:
- Arkansas Total Care Rating System (ARTC) Quality Rating System (See “Performance Metrics Accordion” at bottom of page)
- CareSource Quality Rating System (See “Quality Rating Systems” link that is located between links to National Federation of Families and Sources of Arkansas)
- Empower Quality Rating System (See “Empower Quality Metrics” at bottom of page)
- Summit Quality Rating System (See “Quality Ratings” PDF link in the blue box at the bottom of the page)
Key Resources
- If you are receiving PASSE services or want to receive PASSE services, visit our Beneficiary Page.
- If you are a PASSE member and have an issue or concern, visit our Ombudsman Page.
- If you are a PASSE provider or want to become a PASSE provider, visit our Provider Page.
- If you are a PASSE organization or want to become a PASSE organization, visit our PASSE Organization Page.
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