Arkansas authorizes $19.4 million for provider services staff and operations

The law sets a $19,444,005 spending limit, including $10,958,892 for salaries, $4,044,622 for matching payments tied to staff costs, $3,641,250 for operating expenses, and $703,675 for professional fees. The money covers staff and operations for Arkansas’s Department of Human Services, Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance. Actual spending cannot exceed the authorized amounts or the money made available by law. The state’s chief fiscal officer chooses the paying account, and spending must follow applicable state budget and purchasing rules. The law took effect July 1, 2026. The spending authorization covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

The division may employ up to 186 regular workers and eight temporary or part-time workers. These limits cover workers in the Department of Human Services’ Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance. Temporary or part-time workers may be hired when needed and paid from money authorized for that purpose. Pay must stay within the applicable limits for each job. These employee limits apply to the 2026–2027 fiscal year.