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The Official Website of the State of Arkansas

For PASSE Organizations

For PASSE Organizations

Welcome Message from DHS

This site is dedicated to supporting the four PASSE organizations (Arkansas Total Care, CareSource PASSE, Empower Healthcare Solutions, and Summit Community Care) with clear responsibilities, key materials, and timely updates to deliver integrated care for PASSE members with complex behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability needs.

About PASSE

What is PASSE?

The Provider‑Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) is Arkansas Medicaid’s managed care model for individuals with intensive needs related to behavioral health and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. PASSEs integrate physical, behavioral, and specialized home and community-based services (HCBS) and are majority owned (≥51%) by Arkansas Medicaid providers, as established by Act 775.

Who Does the PASSE Serve?

Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in a PASSE if they meet one or more of the following:

  1. Is on the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver
  2. Is on the DD Waiver wait list and gets Medicaid state plan services
  3. Lives in a private DD Intermediate Care Facility
  4. Has a Behavioral Health (BH) diagnosis and needs services in addition to counseling and medication management
  5. Has active Independent Assessment (IA) that identifies the individual as Tier 2 or higher

Assignment and Choice

Eligible individuals are assigned to a PASSE via DHS’s proportional auto‑assignment. PASSE members have 90 days to change their PASSE organization and can also change during the annual open enrollment period (Oct 1–31) or for cause per rule.

The Four PASSE Organizations (with links):

Program Goals

  1. Improve outcomes for Arkansans needing specialized BH/IDD care through coordinated, person‑centered services.
  2. Link physical, behavioral, and developmental disability providers; reduce under/over‑utilization; and support community living through home and community-based services.

PASSE Responsibilities

The information below summarizes key PASSE responsibilities. The PASSE Agreement fully defines all PASSE responsibilities and serves as the source of truth.

Member‑Centered Care & Coordination

  • Provide care coordination for most services, led by a qualified care coordinator and guided by a Person‑Centered Service Plan (PCSP) that reflects member preferences, goals, crises plans, and medications.
  • Ensure access to all covered Medicaid State Plan services and applicable 1915(i)/1915(c) HCBS; honor Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) for children.

Network Adequacy & Access

  • Maintain adequate provider networks statewide; meet access and waiting time standards; submit adequacy reports/requests as required.
  • Ensure that providers are not listed on the Provider Exclusion List – a registry of individuals, providers, and facilities that are prohibited from doing business with DHS.

Quality Program & Performance Measurement

  • Operate a comprehensive Quality Assessment & Performance Improvement (QAPI) program; conduct Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs); detect under/over‑utilization; and submit performance measures per DHS/EQRO protocols.
  • Participate in External Quality Review activities and act on findings/ recommendations.

Reporting & Oversight

  • Comply with state/federal managed care requirements (42 CFR Part 438), Medical Loss Ratio standards, DHS monitoring, recordkeeping, and audited financials.
  • Submit required program reports (e.g., MCPAR) and data to DHS/CMS as directed.

Member Rights, Grievances & Appeals

  • Uphold member rights; manage complaints, grievances, and appeals processes that meet DHS and federal standards.

Marketing & Communications

  • Follow DHS marketing standards; ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate communications and accessibility.

Incident Management & Critical Events

  • Report critical incidents using DHS PASSE Incident Report procedures and notify appropriate parties (e.g., Ombudsman, Adult Protective Services (APS)/ Child Protective Services (CPS)).

Financial Solvency & Insurance Regulation

  • Meet Arkansas Insurance Department solvency and reserve requirements applicable to risk‑bearing provider organizations under Act 775 framework.

Benefits Scope & Exclusions (Examples)

  • Cover most Medicaid State Plan and PASSE‑specific HCBS. Verify current exclusions in DHS guidance.

Incident Reporting

A critical incident may endanger or negatively impact the mental and/or physical well-being of a member.  When a critical incident occurs involving a PASSE member, the Provider/PASSE must report the critical incident within the required time frame defined by DHS. The information below summarizes key PASSE responsibilities. The PASSE Agreement fully defines all PASSE responsibilities and serves as the source of truth.

Types of reportable incidents include:

  • Death of a member
  • The use of any restrictive intervention, including seclusion, or physical, chemical, or mechanical restraint on a member.
  • Suspected maltreatment or abuse of a member.
  • Any injury to a member that:
    • Requires emergency room care, or a paramedic
    • May cause death
    • May result in a substantial permanent impairment
    • Requires hospitalization
  • Threatened or attempted suicide by a member. 
  • The arrest of a member.
  • Any situation where the member eloped from a service and cannot be located within two (2) hours.
  • Any event where a staff member threatens, abuses, or neglects a member.
  • Medication errors that cause serious injury to the member.

For Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation

If the incident involves suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child or an adult, use the specific hotlines: 

  • Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline: Call 1-800-482-5964 or use the online portal at mandatedreporter.arkansas.gov.
  • Adult Protective Services Hotline: Call 1-800-482-8049. 

Mandated reporters (such as doctors, teachers, and social workers) are legally required to report suspected maltreatment. 

For Fraud or Other Concerns

  • Fraud Hotline (Medicaid, SNAP, TEA, etc.): Call 1-800-422-6641 or email [email protected].
  • General Misconduct/Integrity Concerns: Use the DHS Integrity form on the AR DHS website.
  • Complaints about a Nursing Home: File a complaint with the Arkansas DHS Office of Long Term Care by contacting the Arkansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which administers advocacy services for residents and handles complaints, at 501-682-8155. You can also file a complaint online on the website.
  • Medicaid Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: Contact the Office of Medicaid Inspector General. Visit their website or call 855-527-6644.
  • Attorney General of Arkansas: The Office of the Arkansas Attorney General works with consumers and businesses to address marketplace concerns, including disputes between consumers and businesses about goods and services. Visit their website.

Resources

Access the core DHS Program documents:

  • PASSE Provider Manual (DHS portal): Central hub for state guidance and provider notifications.
  • PASSE Agreement (2023–2026): Binding responsibilities for PASSEs (care coordination, member info, quality, network, marketing, grievance, etc.).
  • DHS PASSE Fact Sheets (Simple & Detailed): Member‑facing summaries of eligibility, PCSP, services.
  • External Quality Review (EQRO) Technical Report (2024, published 2025): Annual performance findings, PIPs, PMV results.
  • Quality Strategy Report: Describes the strategies for assessing and improving the quality of health care and services offered to Arkansas Medicaid clients.

Updates from DHS

Stay Current. Stay Compliant. Stay informed on policy changes, reporting deadlines, and program announcements from Arkansas DHS.

Announcements and Policy Changes

Sign up to receive key emails from DHS.

Training & Events

  1. Review the DHS Calendar
  2. Review the DHS Training and Education offerings

Reports & Publications

DHS publishes key Medicaid Reports and Publications on a regular basis. Reports published include the PASSE Accreditation Status, the External Quality Review Technical Reports, and the Managed Care Program Annual Report, among others.

To download a copy of the PASSE Agreement, click here.