1. (a)

   1. (1)

      1. (A)

2. (i) Speech-language pathology evaluations and services assess a child’s functional communication or language abilities and functional use of language to express emotions, needs, and wants and to respond to others.

   1. (ii) Speech-language pathology evaluations identify disorders and delays in the development of age-appropriate communication skills and provide parent and, or, or both caregiver training, consultation, coaching, and education on ways to enhance the child’s language and communication development within typical daily activities.

      1. (B) Speech-language services support children in making gains in each of the three (3) federally identified outcomes areas in accordance with 20 CAR § 1002-601.

   2. (2)

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

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Each completed speech 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.

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Speech-language pathology evaluations must be performed by a licensed speech-language pathologist in good standing who has been certified by First Connections to provide speech therapy evaluations and services.
      2. (B) Speech-language pathology services must be performed by a licensed speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant in good standing who has been certified by First Connections to provide speech therapy evaluations and services.
   5. (5) Speech-language pathology services can only be performed by an individual who is a certified speech-language pathology local provider program.

3. (b) To be certified by First Connections as a speech-language pathologist or a speech-language pathology assistant, an individual must:

   1. (1) Hold a speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant license in good standing with the Arkansas State Medical Board;
   2. (2) Complete First Connections Core Competencies Certification Training for therapists and meet all First Connections ongoing professional development and training requirements; and

   3. (3) Enroll with the Arkansas Medicaid Program.

      1. (c) A speech-language pathology assistant must:
   4. (1) Be supervised by a speech-language pathologist; and

   5. (2) Have their supervising speech-language pathologist’s certification uploaded into the state-approved data system.

      1. (d)
   6. (1) A speech-language pathologist may supervise a maximum of three (3) speech-language pathology assistants at any time.

   7. (2) A speech-language pathologist must:

      1. (A) Work at the same local provider program organization as any speech-language pathology assistant they are supervising;
      2. (B) Upload into the state-approved data system the certification of any speech-language pathology assistant he or she is 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. (C) Upload into the state-approved data system any in-person observation documentation related to a speech-language pathology assistant they are supervising.

Codification Notes: "PCP" means primary care physician.