One faith-based group recruits almost half of foster homes in Arkansas
The CALL operates in 44 counties with plans for expansion.
Ripe for juvenile justice reform
In DYS director, some see a potential force for long-sought change. Part 1 of 2.
Governor urges congressional fix to health care subsidies
But he also promises Arkansas Works costs will remain stable in 2018.
In backing Obamacare repeal bill, governor would trade billions of dollars for more state flexibility
On Sept. 19, Governor Hutchinson endorsed the so-called Graham-Cassidy health care bill and urged the U.S. Senate to approve the partisan legislation before a Sept. 30 deadline makes its passage effectively impossible. The governor called the bill — sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) — the nation’s “last, best chance to repeal the Affordable Care Act.”
DHS reshuffles to create ‘one-stop shop’ for Medicaid providers
On Thursday, Arkansas Department of Human Services Director Cindy Gillespie announced an internal reorganization of the DHS that will shift 171 employees to a newly created division, impact more than 40 DHS contracts and streamline the agency’s oversight of thousands of Medicaid providers across the state.
Governor: Youth lockups will return to private operator next year
On Monday, Governor Hutchinson announced seven juvenile treatment and correctional facilities taken over by the Arkansas Department of Human Services on Jan. 1 will be placed back in private control as soon as next July. By the end of the year, the governor said, the state will issue a solicitation for one or more contractors to operate the youth lockups, with the winner or winners likely to be announced in March.
No end in sight of state control of youth lockups
After a surprise takeover last year, the state will remain in control of juvenile facilities for at least another year, DYS says.
Senate bill imperils rural health care, hospital leaders warn
In the four years since Arkansas chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, Harris Medical Center in Newport has seen its “bad debt” — bills left unpaid by patients — cut in half.
Governor: Senate health care bill must do more to help Arkansans
At a Thursday press conference at the state Capitol, Governor Hutchinson argued for changing three critical components of the health care legislation introduced last week by fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate, the Better Care Reconciliation Act.
Proposed Medicaid cuts could impact coverage for 400,000 Arkansas children
Like similar legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May, the new Senate bill would also institute major cuts to the traditional Medicaid program, potentially affecting coverage for millions of children, elderly people and disabled adults nationwide.
Study: Arkansas tops nation for percentage of rural children on Medicaid
Almost two-thirds of children in Arkansas’s small towns and rural areas receive health care coverage through Medicaid, according to a report released Wednesday by researchers at Georgetown University and the University of North Carolina — the highest percentage of any state in the nation.
Victims of predatory foster parent sue former DHS employees
Lawsuit says DHS staffers knew about abuse, did nothing.