Established in 1968, Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness (OBHAW), is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and the oldest and largest behavioral health agency in the area, serving the residents of Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, and Pike counties. OBHAW is a private, not-for-profit organization which charges fees for services. OBHAW bills third-party sources such as insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and PASSEs.

Administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Medicaid is a program that helps pay for medically necessary services for low-income Arkansans. OBHAW is certified by the Arkansas Medicaid program as an Outpatient Behavioral Health (OBH) Agency. Core OBH services include Individual and Family Therapy, Psychiatric Evaluation, Medication Management, and Crisis Services.

Even if you have Medicaid, you may not have coverage for core OBH services. Prior to receiving treatment services, an evaluation must be performed by a qualified mental health professional for admission into an OBH Program. The evaluation is a written assessment that evaluates your mental condition including assessment for serious mental illness (adults) or serious emotional disturbance (children) and, based on your diagnosis and the assessment, determines whether treatment in the OBH Program is appropriate. If appropriate, a plan for your care specific to your needs, including services to be provided, will be developed in collaboration with you. If OBH services are not appropriate, we will make every effort to provide resources for you. For more information and OBH rules, visit medicaid.mmis.arkansas.gov