Total Award Amount: $3,000,000

Award Information:

• This grant will be awarded to either one single bidder or two bidders at $1,500,000 max.

Application Due Date: June 3, 2024

Statement of Need:

Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring behavioral health needs currently can only receive care in high-cost settings, mainly in the Arkansas State Hospital or a Human Development Center. DHS currently has no (0) therapeutic community beds in the entire state for IDD beneficiaries with behavioral health needs. In contrast, there are fifteen therapeutic facilities serving those without an IDD diagnosis who have behavioral health needs. It is estimated there are at least 200 beneficiaries with IDD and behavioral health needs in need of care in a community-based setting.

Required Grant Activities:

This funding will be awarded to construct or renovate physical infrastructure that supports therapeutic community programs for adults with IDD across Arkansas.

Program Description:

This grant allows Medicaid providers to create therapeutic communities (16-bed units) that provide step-down support from high-cost, in-patient psychiatric care for those adults with co-occurring IDD, plus a behavioral health diagnosis.

Applicant Qualifications:

Applicants selected for the project, must, at a minimum, meet the below requirements:

• Must be enrolled as a Medicaid provider OR must demonstrate a viable pathway to enrolling as a Medicaid provider within the grant period.
• Must be enrolled in the PASSE networks or will enroll within the grant period.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to serving Medicaid members within the community through the grant period and beyond.
• Must have capacity to begin project work by September 1, 2024. A workplan will be required.
• As part of this project, all grant recipients will be required to participate in evaluation activities and provide data as requested by the Department.

Grant Usage Requirements:

• Grant funds may only be used to supplement, expand, or start a new program.
• Project work must begin after legislative approval of the grant, tentative start date of September 1, 2024. Expenses incurred prior to this date are not eligible for grant funding.
• Project work must be completed by September 2026.  Project expenses incurred after this date are not eligible for grant funding. Incomplete construction by September 2026 will result in provider’s repayment of ARPA grant funding.
• Grantee must agree to participate in all program evaluations, report required program metrics, and provide all data as requested to the department, within established grant timelines.
• Grant funding will be paid on a reimbursement basis. Grantees will begin grant work and will provide monthly progress reports to Arkansas Department of Human Services. The grantee will be paid a portion of the grant amount based on the successful completion of the monthly report (which may include invoices used to verify grant expenses). Upon successful completion of all monthly reports, the grantee will receive their entire grant award.

Ineligible Activities:

• Grant funds may not be used to supplant pre-existing functions.
• Grant funds may not be used for prospective payments. A prospective payment is a method of reimbursement in which Medicaid payments are made based on a predetermined, fixed amount.

How to Apply:

All of the following items must be submitted online through email only between May 3, 2024— June 3, 2024, 5:00 PM CT. Submit packets to Hunter Ballard at [email protected].

Late and/or incomplete application packets will not be considered. The grant review committee reserves the right to deem an application ineligible if it does not include all required documents.

Required Application Items:

• Cover Letter & Attestation
• Grant Application Narrative
• Business Plan
• Budget Plan
• Sustainability Narrative

Contact Information:
If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please reach out to the Department through the program contact:

Hunter Ballard-Medicaid Specialty Populations
[email protected]