This bill mandates that the Arkansas Medicaid Program provide coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services specifically for beneficiaries who are over 21 years of age, diagnosed with autism, participating in the Community and Employment Services Waiver, and have received a medical necessity determination from a qualified healthcare provider. The bill introduces a new section, 20-77-154, to the Arkansas Code, detailing the criteria for coverage and the delivery of ABA services, which must be tailored to the individual needs of the beneficiary and can be provided in home and community settings.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that ABA services must be delivered by a board-certified behavior analyst or a registered behavior technician under the supervision of a board-certified behavior analyst, and it explicitly states that these services should not be limited to group or clinical settings. To facilitate the implementation of this new coverage, the Department of Human Services is required to apply for any necessary federal waivers or Medicaid state plan amendments.