(a)

1. (1) Occupational therapy evaluations and services address the functional needs of a child in their adaptive development, adaptive behavior, and play, as well as sensory, motor, and postural development.
2. (2) Occupational therapy supports the child’s ability to participate in typical daily activities in the home, childcare or early learning setting, and in the community locations the child and family frequent and enhance the capacity of the child’s adult caregivers to promote the child’s participation, early learning, and development between therapy sessions in accordance with 20 CAR § 1002-601.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Occupational therapy evaluations require documentation of a written prescription signed by the child’s primary care provider (PCP) or attending licensed physician, documentation of PCP or attending physician’s refusal, or documentation of three (3) valid attempts to obtain the prescription.
   2. (B) Occupational therapy services require a written prescription signed and dated by the child's primary care provider (PCP) or attending licensed physician, documentation of PCP or attending physician’s refusal, or documentation of three (3) valid attempts to obtain the prescription.

4. (4)

   1. (A) Each completed occupational therapy evaluation and report must be keyed into the child’s electronic record in the state-approved data system within twenty-one (21) calendar days of parent consent for the evaluation with a copy of the evaluation report attached. See 20 CAR § 1002-407.
   2. (B) Each home or community visit (service session) or IFSP service provided outside of a child’s natural environment must be entered into the child’s electronic record in the state-approved data system as a delivered services note within thirty (30) days of each delivered service in accordance with 20 CAR § 1002-602.

5. (5)

   1. (A) Occupational therapy evaluations must be performed by a licensed occupational therapist in good standing who has been certified by First Connections to provide occupational therapy evaluations and services.
   2. (B) Occupational therapy services must be performed by a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in good standing who has been certified by First Connections to provide occupational therapy evaluations and services.
6. (6) Occupational therapy evaluations and services must be performed by an individual who is a certified occupational therapy service provider.
7. (7) Any occupational therapy evaluation instrument administered must be from the state-approved list.

(b) To be certified by First Connections as an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant, an individual must:

1. (1) Hold an occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant license in good standing with the Arkansas State Medical Board;
2. (2) Complete all First Connections Core Competencies Therapist Certification course and be up to date on all annual ongoing professional development requirements and other training; and
3. (3) Enroll with the Arkansas Medicaid Program.

(c)

1. (1) An occupational therapy assistant must be supervised by an occupational therapist.
2. (2) An occupational therapy assistant must have their supervising occupational therapist’s certification uploaded into the state-approved data system.

(d)

1. (1) An occupational therapist may supervise a maximum of three (3) occupational therapy assistants at any time.
2. (2) An occupational therapist must work at the same local provider program as any occupational therapy assistant they are supervising, unless the Part C coordinator provides a documentation in writing of an exception to this policy to meet an urgent need of the statewide system of early intervention.
3. (3) An occupational therapist must upload into the state-approved data system the certification of any occupational therapy assistant they are supervising.

4. (4)

   1. (A) An occupational therapist must complete a quarterly written evaluation on each occupational therapy assistant they are supervising, which must include a complete evaluation of the occupational therapy assistant’s performance based on the supervising occupational therapist’s in-person observation of a session with a child and parent.
   2. (B) One (1) of the four (4) quarterly reports during each twelve-month period must be an annual written evaluation.