Arkansas Code Title 20. Public Health and Welfare § 20-77-124. Medicaid waiver for autism spectrum disorder--Definitions

(1) “Autism spectrum disorder” means a condition that is diagnosed by at least two (2) qualified professionals who both conclude that a child fully meets the diagnostic criteria under the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;

(2) “Evidence-based treatment” means treatment subject to research that applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge of effectiveness relative to autism spectrum disorder as published by the National Standards Report by the National Autism Center;

(3) “Intensive early intervention treatment” means individualized treatment utilizing evidence-based treatment determined appropriate following a detailed assessment of the child that occurs:

(b)(1) The Department of Human Services shall maintain a Medicaid waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide intensive early intervention treatment to any eligible child who has a primary diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder.

(2) The waiver shall provide services for young children consistent with the terms specified in the waiver application approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

(3) The waiver shall seek to develop skills of children in the areas of cognition, behavior, communication, and social interaction.