Arkansas Medicaid ABA Reimbursement Rates (2026)
From official Arkansas Medicaid sources. Updated July 2026.
These are the published Arkansas Medicaid rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. Rates are shown as published. For per-15-minute rows, multiply by 4 for the hourly rate; rows priced per hour, per session, or per assessment are labeled in the table.
Arkansas ABA Fee Schedule
| Code | Service | Rate | Unit | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97151 (EP) | Behavior identification assessment (BCBA), EPSDT Verified in current ABATHERAPY-fees.pdf (run date 1/1/25), Provider Type 90 | $20.00 | per 15 min | 2025-01-01 | source |
| 97153 (EP) | Adaptive behavior treatment by protocol (technician), EPSDT Verified in current ABATHERAPY-fees.pdf (run date 1/1/25); manual confirms 15-min face-to-face unit, no rounding up | $15.00 | per 15 min | 2025-01-01 | source |
| 97155 (EP) | Adaptive behavior treatment with protocol modification (BCBA), EPSDT Verified in current ABATHERAPY-fees.pdf (run date 1/1/25) | $22.50 | per 15 min | 2025-01-01 | source |
| 97156 (EP) | Family adaptive behavior treatment guidance, EPSDT Verified in current ABATHERAPY-fees.pdf (run date 1/1/25) | $20.00 | per 15 min | 2025-01-01 | source |
How Arkansas Compares
| Code | Arkansas | National median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97151 (EP) | $20.00 | $29.14 | 31% below national median |
| 97153 (EP) | $15.00 | $15.00 | 0% above national median |
| 97155 (EP) | $22.50 | $24.18 | 7% below national median |
| 97156 (EP) | $20.00 | $22.50 | 11% below national median |
Market Context
Arkansas has had an autism insurance mandate since 2011. About 415,014 children in Arkansas are enrolled in Medicaid. Autism prevalence is 3.2% (2022 data). ProviderSpark lists 78 verified ABA provider locations in Arkansas.
Getting Paneled with Arkansas Medicaid (traditional/fee-for-service) for most ABA beneficiaries; PASSE (Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) for Medicaid members with more complex behavioral-health/IDD needs who are risk-assigned into a PASSE
Arkansas splits ABA reimbursement across two systems depending on the beneficiary, and enrollment has to account for both.
- Enroll as an Arkansas Medicaid provider through the MMIS Provider Portal. Individual providers enroll directly; group providers must also enroll each performing individual separately.
- Pass the criminal background check required under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-48-812(c)(1-4).
- Meet ABA credentialing requirements: current BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT certification in good standing with the BACB (RBTs get a six-month provisional grace period while completing certification).
- Route prior authorization correctly: fee-for-service beneficiaries go through Acentra Health; PASSE-enrolled members go through that member’s assigned PASSE care coordinator instead.
- Check your location: practices more than 50 miles from the Arkansas state line (or based in a non-bordering state) can only serve Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries through a single case agreement per beneficiary, not standard enrollment. Practices within 50 miles of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Texas can enroll normally.
How Arkansas Delivers ABA
Most ABA beneficiaries are covered through traditional fee-for-service Medicaid. Members with more complex behavioral-health or IDD needs get risk-assigned into a PASSE instead — Arkansas Total Care, CareSource PASSE, Empower Healthcare Solutions, or Summit Community Care. Which bucket a beneficiary falls into determines who reviews your prior authorization and who you’re actually dealing with day to day, so check PASSE status before you submit anything.
Billing Notes
Prior authorization is required before an ABA provider can be reimbursed at all, and it applies separately to each of the four covered ABA service types. The initial authorization needs a comprehensive BCBA evaluation plus a physician-signed treatment prescription (form DMS-641 TP). Continued authorization needs periodic re-evaluation — at least every six months for beneficiaries 18 months to 8 years old, and at least every 12 months for beneficiaries 8 to 21.
Telehealth is only partially reimbursable. Just two of the four ABA service types can be delivered by telemedicine: BCBA supervision/protocol-modification sessions and family adaptive behavior treatment services. Direct 1:1 ABA therapy sessions must be in person, regardless of who’s delivering them. Telehealth sessions need parental consent and must be synchronous, and they’re reimbursed the same as in-person visits.
Two quirks trip providers up. First, concurrent or split billing isn’t allowed — one beneficiary’s ABA services all have to come from a single provider (or, for groups, from individuals affiliated with the same group). Second, beneficiaries already receiving Autism Waiver services can’t also receive ABA therapy benefits under this manual, so check waiver status before you enroll someone.
Common Questions
What does Arkansas Medicaid pay for CPT 97153?
See the rate table above for the codes Arkansas publishes.
What are the main ABA CPT codes?
97151 is the assessment. 97153 is direct treatment by a technician. 97155 is treatment with protocol modification by the BCBA. 97156 is family guidance.
Are these Arkansas rates current?
Rates come from the state fee schedule and were last checked July 2026. Each row links to its source. Always confirm against the current fee schedule before billing.
Compare neighboring states: Texas · Tennessee · Missouri · Oklahoma · Louisiana