(a)(1) The General Assembly finds that during the public health emergency caused by coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Human Services issued several memorandums authorizing certain reimbursement for behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine for the time period of the public health emergency.
(2)It is the intent of the General Assembly to make the authorization for certain reimbursement for behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine permanent.
(b)The Arkansas Medicaid Program shall reimburse for the following behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine:
(1)Counseling and psychoeducation provided by a person licensed as:
(B)A psychological examiner;
(C)A professional counselor;
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(a) (1) The General Assembly finds that during the public health emergency caused by coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Human Services issued several memorandums authorizing certain reimbursement for behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine for the time period of the public health emergency. (2) It is the intent of the General Assembly to make the authorization for certain reimbursement for behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine permanent. (b) The Arkansas Medicaid Program shall reimburse for the following behavioral and mental health services provided via telemedicine: (1) Counseling and psychoeducation provided by a person licensed as: (A) A psychologist; (B) A psychological examiner; (C) A professional counselor; (D) An associate counselor; (E) An associate marriage and family therapist; (F) A marriage and family therapist; (G) A clinical social worker; or (H) A master social worker; (2) Crisis intervention services; (3) Substance abuse assessments; (4) Mental health diagnosis assessments for an individual under twenty-one (21) years of age; and (5) Group therapy for individuals who are eighteen (18) years of age or older under the current service definition determined by the Arkansas Medicaid Program and when provided via audiovisual technology that is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191, and composed of beneficiaries of similar age and clinical presentation to qualified beneficiaries. (c) The Arkansas Medicaid Program shall reimburse for supplemental support services provided in-person or via audiovisual technology or telephone that is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191, within the managed care program in the same manner as provided by risk-based provider organizations under the Medicaid Provider-Led Organized Care Act, § 20-77-2701 et seq., through the later of: (1) The end of the public health emergency that began on March 11, 2020, by Executive Order 20-03; or (2) December 31, 2021. (d) The department shall apply for any federal waiver, Medicaid state plan amendment, or other authorization necessary to implement this section. (e) This section applies to Medicaid beneficiaries in the fee-for-service Arkansas Medicaid Program and the managed care Arkansas Medicaid Program. This section was originally enacted as §20-77-112.