Question: If a child is evaluated for school therapy, I understand that the evaluation is valid for three years. When is the annual update required?
The annual update should be conducted within one year of the date of the evaluation.
Example: If the evaluation is completed on 8/1/12, then the annual update is required by 8/1/13, the subsequent update is due a year following this, and then the comprehensive evaluation would be due 8/1/15.
"Children (age 3 to 21) receiving services within public schools, as part of an Individual Program Plan (IPP) or an Individual Education Plan (IEP), must have a full evaluation every three years; however, an annual update of progress is required."
Section 214.300 C-13 Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual
Section II-214.400 D-11 Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual
 Question: If I decide to perform testing to include in my annual update, can I bill the time spent in testing time as therapy? What if I'm scoring the evaluation and updating goals? No. The time spent in testing should be billed as evaluation units. If direct therapy is not performed, then direct therapy should not be billed.
Section 262.100 Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual
Question: What if I need to evaluate a child and the reimbursable evaluation units have been expended?
Medicaid will reimburse up to four (4) occupational, physical and speech therapy evaluation units (1 unit = 30 minutes) per discipline, per state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) without authorization. Additional evaluation units will require an extended therapy request.
Section II-216.100 Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual
If you wish to request additional units, see Section II-216.300 for "Process for Requesting Extended Therapy Services."
Question: Can a nurse practitioner sign the DMS-640?
No. A DMS-640 form signed by a nurse practitioner is not considered valid.
Section II-214.220 Arkansas Medicaid Provider Manual | 
