- Access the Provider Portal (check eligibility, submit a PA request, or submit claims)
- DMS COVID-19 Provider Manual and DHS COVID-19 Page for Providers
- Fee Schedules
- PCMH / PCCM
- Policy 1088
- Proposed Rules & Public Notices
- Provider Manuals
- Provider Training Information
- Sign-up for MMIS email updates
- State Plan (Medicaid and CHIP)
What’s New for Arkansas Medicaid Providers
Content Updated March 11, 2024
Ransomware Attack on Change Healthcare
On February 21, 2024, a ransomware attack shut down Change Healthcare operations around the nation. Change Healthcare is not affiliated with Arkansas Medicaid directly, but it operates as a “clearinghouse” for approximately 1000 Arkansas Medicaid providers. A clearinghouse processes payments for providers through multiple billing systems and allows the provider to “batch bill” or submit multiple claims at one time. However, a clearinghouse is not required to bill the Arkansas Medicaid system for services rendered. Claims can be submitted directly through the interChange Provider Portal. In fact, interChange, the Arkansas Medicaid billing system, has been working as intended since the attack on February 21, 2024, and Medicaid billing operations have not been directly impacted.
We understand that many providers were directly impacted. We also are aware that it may take Change Healthcare several more weeks to resume normal operations. For more information on the cyberattack and the status of Change Healthcare’s work to restore systems, please visit this website: Information on the Change Healthcare Cyber Response – UnitedHealth Group.
To help providers who may have been affected by this large cyberattack, Arkansas Medicaid is providing some informational resources. These resources are both operational and financial.
Arkansas Provider Billing Portal: The Arkansas Provider Billing Portal is always available for direct billing, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The portal can be accessed here: https://portal.mmis.arkansas.gov/armedicaid/provider/Home/tabid/135/Default.aspx. While the portal does not allow for batch billing, any provider can directly submit a claim for processing and payment. If you need assistance with using the portal, please call 833-764-5599.
Changing Clearinghouse Vendors: If you make a business decision to switch clearinghouse vendors, we can assist you with getting the new vendor set up. To do that, please follow these steps:
Update your Trading Partner (clearinghouse) linkage in the portal. This is accessible under Manage Accounts. Additional instructions are available here: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/MMIS_JobAid_LinkTPID.pdf
When a provider adds a Trading Partner, that gives the Trading Partner access to that provider’s 835s (remittance advice data). (* Note that as long as a Trading Partner is active, the Trading Partner can submit claims on behalf of any provider without a linkage, and in fact, Change Healthcare submitted at least one claim to Arkansas Medicaid for an approximately 1760 providers last month. )
CMS Guidance: CMS has issued guidance to Providers, Medicare Advantage Agencies, and other payors which can be found here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/05/hhs-statement-regarding-the-cyberattack-on-change-healthcare.html. Additionally, Medicare is authorizing some accelerated payments to Medicare providers. To submit these, you must go through the Medicare Administrative Contractor. View additional information from CMS about Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) Accelerated Payments to Part A Providers and Advance Payments to Part B Suppliers.
Payment Assistance: Optum Financial Services (a fellow United Health Subsidiary) is offering a Temporary Funding Assistance Program for impacted organizations. For more information, visit: https://www.optum.com/en/business/providers/health-systems/payments-lending-solutions/optum-pay/temporary-funding-assistance.html. Medicaid is the payor of last resort by federal regulation. This means we are required to look for any other sources of payment for a claim before we use Medicaid money. Under this policy, Arkansas Medicaid is not currently issuing any advance payments on claims because there are other sources of financial assistance available for providers.
Arkansas Medicaid is working with internal and external partners to ensure we are helping providers who are impacted by this cyberattack. We are holding daily internal status meetings, and representatives from Medicaid and the DHS Office of Information Technology are participating in daily stakeholder meetings regarding the nationwide impacts of this issue. We are enhancing support in our Provider Call Center to ensure providers have assistance available for the next few weeks as these issues are resolved, and in anticipation of enhanced utilization of our Provider Portal billing solution.
Annual Billing Conference on May 9, 2024
The MMIS Outreach Team has big news! They will not host five regional Annual Billing Workshops this fall. Instead, they will now host one centralized Annual Billing Conference for ALL Arkansas Medicaid providers. The event will be held on May 9, 2024, from 9 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock.
Providers may attend in-person or via livestream.
The event is still in the planning stages, but more information will be added soon on the Provider Training webpage. Register now!
Diabetic Supplies Update
To better assess the concerns and options proposed in public comments, DHS is postponing the effective date for Rule 243 for moving continuous glucose monitors and diabetic supplies to pharmacy point of sale claims processing until 4/1/2024. AFMC will continue to review DME requests for continuous glucose monitors and diabetic supplies and provide necessary authorizations. Further communication will be provided when information is available.
If there are any questions, please contact the Magellan Help Desk at (800) 424-7895.
Covid-19 Information from DHS
Important information on what DHS is doing about coronavirus as well as reliable, up-to-date information about how the virus is affecting the State can be found on the DHS website.
Get the latest Covid-19 information for providers.
New Official Notices
Please click here for the latest official notices.
New RA Messages
Added 3/11/24
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to all providers. View the message regarding Ransomware Attack on Change Healthcare.
Added 2/29/24
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to all providers. View the message regarding Provider Guidance: Coordination of Benefits.
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to Adult Development Day Treatment (ADDT) and Early Intervention Day Treatment (EIDT) providers. View the message regarding EIDT/ADDT-Recent Covid Claims Recoupment for Dates of Service 01/01/23-12/31/23.
Added 2/23/24
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to all providers. View the message regarding Edit 3383 (ATTACHMENT REQUIRED FOR NON-COBA CROSSOVER CLAIMS) Retrospective Review Recoupment – EOMB.
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to Physician, Hospital, Independent Radiology, and Nurse Practitioner providers. View the message regarding Rates for 77520, 77522, and 77523.
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to all providers. View the message regarding Annual Billing Conference on May 9, 2024.
Arkansas Medicaid released a remittance advice message to Counseling Services providers. View the message regarding New Diagnosis Group for Alcohol Use Disorder (2033).