How to Refer a Patient

To refer a patient to Arkansas Children's, browse the tools and information below.

Medicaid Referral Changes

Arkansas Medicaid and Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) recently changed their referral requirements for patients needing specialty care.   

Below are the changes you need to know to ensure your patient receives the proper Medicaid coverage for their specialist referral.  

Information updates to referrals:   

  • A patient referral must list at least two providers of the same type or specialty. Radiology and other ancillaries are exceptions.   
  • The words “Or first available” must be included so a patient can be scheduled for the first available and most appropriate provider for the requested specialty.   
  • The reason listed on the referral cannot say “evaluation and treatment.”   
  • The national provider identifier (NPI) or Medicaid number must be included on the referral for the referred-to providers and the referring primary care physician (PCP).   

For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Human Services or AFMC.   

 

About Healthy Planet

Our secure web portal connects you to information stored in our EMR for referred and admitted patients.

As referred patients receive care from us, we send notifications and updates through this portal. This provides you with the information you need to plan patients' ongoing care.

Benefits of using Healthy Planet

  • Access to patients' results, notes, orders, and more
  • Request appointments/refer patients
  • Place lab and imaging orders
  • Receive automatic messages about important patient events
  • No software to install

To sign up, please choose a site administrator for your clinic and they will be sent login information and can then add other users. For assistance, please contact your physician liaison.

Physician Liaisons are your main communication link to Arkansas Children's. The liaisons travel the state to visit pediatricians, family practice physicians and specialists to share information about Arkansas Children's programs and services.

 
Erica Bowman headshot

Erica Bowman
Physician Liaison
501-425-8958
mondayee@archildrens.org


Samantha Hathaway headshot

Samantha Hathaway
Physician Liaison
501-514-0265
hathawayse@archildrens.org


Stephanie Pinkerton headshot

Stephanie Pinkerton
Physician Liaison, Northwest
479-725-6864
pinkertonsj@archildrens.org

The Arkansas Children's Operations Center offers the highest level of service as a one-call transfer system, providing a single-entry point to transfer patients to the Arkansas Children's system.

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Arkansas Children’s Operations Center provides a seamless transfer process for patients, families and providers with a centralized entry point to all Arkansas Children’s facilities.

Contact the Arkansas Children's Operations Center to initiate a transfer today at 888-764-5437.

Locations

Quick Reference Guide

This guide can be used to help learn about the statewide services that Arkansas Children's has to offer.

View Guide