rural health care
UAMS will train medical residents at nonprofit-acquired El Dorado hospital
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will adapt the hospital in El Dorado into its ninth regional campus to train young medical professionals, the institution announced Monday in a press release. The former Medical Center of South Arkansas will be called the South Arkansas Regional Hospital, sharing its name with the local nonprofit that […]
$15M grant allows UAMS to study improvements to postpartum care for underserved Arkansans
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will conduct a five-year study of new mothers throughout the state to come up with improvements for postpartum health care and work to reduce maternal mortality, the institution announced Wednesday. Researchers will compare two postpartum health care models — the Telehealth Multicomponent Optimal Model and the enhanced standard […]
Rural emergency hospital proposal passes Arkansas Senate unanimously
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
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 Legislative Council approves rural hospital aid, court system funds
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 […]
New Sevier County hospital wins $6.25 million grant after legislative panel debate
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 […]
U.S. Senate candidates debate agriculture, immigration
Agriculture and the struggles of Arkansas’ rural communities were top of mind for U.S. Senate candidates who participated in a debate hosted by Arkansas PBS Friday afternoon. Agriculture is the state’s largest industry, adding about $16 billion to the state’s economy each year. However, farmers are struggling with higher costs this year. The war in […]
Arkansas lawmakers OK funding for Camden hospital, continue debate on federal pandemic relief
Arkansas legislators on Friday approved a request from the state Department of Human Services for up to $6 million in federal pandemic relief funding to support a Camden hospital at risk of closing. However, the Arkansas Legislative Council also sent three of four committee-approved projects back to its Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review subcommittee. Some […]
Committee approves $60M to help struggling rural Arkansas hospitals
Rural Arkansas hospitals at risk of permanently closing their doors should get short-term relief with $60 million of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, a state panel unanimously recommended Wednesday. Hospitals statewide saw less revenue over the past two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some are in “immediate jeopardy of […]