hospitals

Rural emergency hospital proposal passes Arkansas Senate unanimously

BY: - February 10, 2023

A proposed state law that could bolster federal funding for rural hospitals as an incentive to specialize in emergency and outpatient care passed the Arkansas Senate and was sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk Thursday. House Bill 1127 received “yes” votes from all 34 senators, with one senator absent. The bill passed the House […]

Rural Arkansas hospitals could get more funding for reducing inpatient services under proposed law

BY: - February 9, 2023

An Arkansas Senate committee on Wednesday approved a proposal that could bolster federal funding for rural hospitals as an incentive to specialize in emergency and outpatient care. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) subsidizes critical access hospitals — located no less than 35 miles from other hospitals and maintaining no more than […]

Arkansas state Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Melbourne) talks with another House member during a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council Friday morning, Dec. 16, 2022, in the Big MAC Building on the grounds of the state Capitol.(Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate-12.16.2022)

Arkansas Legislative Council approves rural hospital aid, court system funds

BY: - December 16, 2022

Arkansas legislators gave final approval on Friday for a new Southwest Arkansas hospital to receive $6.25 million in federal relief funds and voted down an attempt to take up several more federal aid requests. The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review subcommittee green-lit the American Rescue Plan Act funds for Sevier County Medical […]

The Sevier County Medical Center under construction. (Photo from https://www.seviercountymedical.com/about)

New Sevier County hospital wins $6.25 million grant after legislative panel debate

BY: - December 14, 2022

State lawmakers approved $6.25 million in federal recovery funds for a rural Southwest Arkansas hospital on Tuesday, but not before a couple of senators complained about last-minute funding requests that seemed to bypass legislative procedures. Not receiving the funds “would really put us in a financial bind,” hospital CEO Lori House told the Arkansas Legislative […]

A gloved hand holds a bottle of Covid-19 vaccine.

Federal judge strikes down part of Montana’s far-reaching anti-vax law

BY: - December 13, 2022

In a victory for public health advocates, a federal judge in Montana has blocked the state from implementing a law that would make it illegal for hospitals to ask employees if they are vaccinated. The measure, which passed last year, was the country’s most extreme anti-vaccination law. Health care providers in Montana had sued the […]