AGP Executive Report

Hospital Workforce Cuts: Baptist Health confirmed it will cut another 70 jobs at its Fort Smith hospital, adding to earlier reductions tied to lower service volumes. Medicaid Pressure: Federal CMS guidance lays out how states must verify Medicaid work requirements, with Arkansas and other states facing tight timelines and the risk of coverage losses. Elder Nutrition Funding: Arkansas DHS cutbacks threaten Meals on Wheels and other senior services, with CareLink warning of staffing and hours losses starting July 1. Public Health Alerts: A salmonella investigation into imported moringa leaf supplements has been reopened after additional illnesses, prompting new warnings and added recalled brands. Cancer Research Investment: Highlands Oncology in Springdale invested about $4 million to expand its clinical trials suite to grow access to new cancer therapies. Local Care Expansion: Freeman Health completed its $110 million acquisition of Northwest Health hospitals across Northwest Arkansas, bringing about 2,200 employees into the Freeman network. School Mental Health Continuity: Jonesboro’s Success Academy will switch mental health providers to Secure Foundation Counseling after the prior contractor exited. Allergy Innovation: A new peanut allergy microneedle “stamp” is entering a clinical trial aimed at desensitizing patients through the skin. Food Benefit Theft Response: Arkansas DHS says summer nutrition benefit recipients must reset PINs after thefts tied to card fraud. Safety Update: A Walnut Ridge woman died and three Jonesboro residents were injured in a head-on crash in Craighead County.

Medicaid Work Mandate: CMS issued a nationwide rule requiring many Medicaid expansion adults to document 80 hours a month of work, school, training or community service to keep coverage, with states needing compliance by Jan. 1, 2027—raising concerns for Arkansans who may lose care due to paperwork and limited flexibility. Rural Telehealth Funding: Johnson Regional Medical Center is seeking first-round THRIVE/Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program dollars to expand telehealth and remote monitoring, aiming to strengthen cardiology, nephrology, psychiatry and infant care while reducing unnecessary transfers and ER use. Hospital System Moves: Freeman Health System says it has completed its acquisition of Northwest Health hospitals in Northwest Arkansas, a major consolidation that could reshape local access and services. Workforce & Safety: Greenwood leaders are weighing a FEMA SAFER grant to add full-time firefighters as medical/rescue calls rise. Primary Care Expansion: NEA Baptist opened a new Manila family practice clinic to bring closer-to-home care for sick visits and chronic conditions. Community Health Needs: Our Blood Institute in Fort Smith is pushing for summer donors ahead of its MASH BASH blood drive. Public Health Alerts: Stamps lifted a boil water order after a chlorinator booster pump failure; samples showed no bacterial contamination. Innovation in Health: UA Little Rock hosts an AI Hackathon and HealthTech Startup Week with a public demo/pitch showcase June 12.

Rural Primary Care Access: NEA Baptist opened a full-service family practice clinic in Manila, expanding local care for sick visits, minor injuries, and chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Public Health & Safety: A boil order for Stamps Water System was lifted after Arkansas Department of Health testing showed no bacterial contamination and proper disinfectant levels. Health Workforce & Training: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) announced a new Doctor of Physical Therapy admissions pathway for licensed allied health professionals, aiming to speed advanced training for experienced clinicians. Medicare Fraud Prevention: The Arkansas Insurance Department is urging seniors to “Prevent, Detect & Report” scams during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, highlighting Senior Medicare Patrol resources. Insurance Coverage Watch: A new Georgetown report found the uninsured rate for children under 6 rose sharply from 2022 to 2024, with Arkansas among states with higher rates. Animal Health Threats: Arkansas officials warned about chronic wasting disease spreading among white-tailed deer and elk, while a Lone Star tick is driving bobcat fever deaths in local cats. Community Nutrition: Meals on Wheels of Benton County shut down after more than 40 years, citing volunteer and donation shortfalls. Healthcare System Moves: Freeman Health System completed its acquisition of Northwest Health hospitals in Northwest Arkansas.

Maternal Health in the Delta: A new focus on improving maternal health in Arkansas’ Delta highlights gaps in access and education, with local leaders pointing to better support for women’s health needs. Maternal-Child Care Systems: A statewide push is underway to strengthen maternal-child health, including major funding for programs tied to UAMS and telehealth-enabled care coordination. Heat Safety: As summer ramps up, health professionals urge Arkansans to stay hydrated and recognize heat illness signs, especially for kids and older adults. Rural Health Workforce: Coverage notes how expanding medical training in northeast Arkansas is helping address long-standing doctor and nurse shortages in rural areas. Substance Use Treatment Expansion: Incura Treatment Centers is opening a new Little Rock location on Rodney Parham, adding inpatient beds and outpatient slots for addiction treatment. Local Health Policy & Environment: Little Rock’s proposed data center rules face pushback over water use and resident concerns, tying growth decisions to public health impacts. Arkansas Health Coverage Wins: The Arkansas Advocate staff earned multiple state journalism awards, including health-related reporting tied to maternity ward shortages and other care pressures.

Heat & Air Quality Alerts: Parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas are under air quality alerts, with pockets of “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” conditions raising risks for kids, older adults, and people with asthma or heart/lung disease. Heat Safety: As temperatures and humidity climb across Arkansas, health experts urge hydration, shade, and cooling breaks, warning that heat stress is a leading weather-related killer. Maternal-Child Health: A new piece argues Arkansas’s big maternal-child health push could miss the “next chapter” by not catching developmental issues early enough, pointing to Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies funding and UAMS work. Medicaid Work Requirements Pressure: States are balking at Medicaid work requirements as budget crunches threaten cuts, with concerns that fewer people will lose coverage and rural care could take a hit. Water Safety in Arkansas: Elkins issued a city-wide boil order after an E. coli detection, with officials planning follow-up sampling to lift it. Hospice Leadership: Hospice of Texarkana named Greg Wood its new executive director, bringing decades of hospice leadership experience. Local Crash Updates: A Walnut Ridge woman died and three Jonesboro residents were injured in a head-on crash on Highway 1; separate reports also note other recent Arkansas traffic incidents.

Medicaid Work Requirements Backlash: States are balking at Medicaid work requirements as budgets tighten, with North Carolina warning cuts could disrupt care and rural hospitals, while Louisiana sees nearly 200,000 people leave Medicaid and debates whether they’re better off or uninsured. Arkansas Access & Safety: Arkansas DHS required Summer EBT PIN resets after reports of stolen benefits, and Elkins issued a city-wide boil order after E. coli was found in the water system. UAMS & Maternal Support: UAMS is piloting a doula integration toolkit at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, aiming to expand support during pregnancy and childbirth. Hospice Leadership: Hospice of Texarkana named Greg Wood its new executive director, bringing 24+ years of hospice leadership experience. Local Health Workforce Pressure: Washington Regional announced restructuring and expected job cuts, citing financial pressures. Community Health Events: North Central Arkansas libraries and Baxter Regional Medical Center are hosting June family and wellness programming, including “Threads of Hope” for cancer patients.

Boil Order in Elkins: The Arkansas Department of Health issued an emergency boil order for all of Elkins after E. coli was found in the water system, advising residents to boil water 1 minute before use and discard ice made with unboiled water until disinfectant levels are restored. UAMS Proton Center Dispute: UAMS terminated service agreements with Proton International Arkansas over unpaid invoices totaling about $916,000, saying it will keep treating current proton therapy patients while new requests are reviewed case-by-case, with extra attention to pediatric and medically necessary cases. Maternal Care Innovation: UAMS is piloting a doula integration toolkit at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, aiming to expand support in maternal healthcare. Contract Pharmacy Legal Fight: The 4th Circuit agreed to rehear challenges to 340B contract pharmacy laws, with Arkansas and Louisiana already upholding similar rules—important for how safety-net patients access medications. Community Health & Safety: Little Rock faith leaders renewed calls for peace after a recent homicide, while a local calendar highlights free blood pressure and glucose checks at a community fitness day. Workforce & Access: Baxter Health announced restructuring and job cuts tied to financial pressures, underscoring ongoing staffing strain in regional care.

Boil Order Alert: The Arkansas Department of Health issued an emergency boil order for Elkins after E. coli was found in the water system, advising residents to boil water 1 minute for drinking and food prep until the issue is fixed. Cancer Care Funding Shock: UAMS ended its service agreements with the owner of the state’s only proton therapy center, citing more than $900,000 in unpaid invoices, while saying it will help current patients finish treatment and will review new requests case-by-case. Maternal Health Tech in the Spotlight: UAMS is piloting a doula integration toolkit at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, aiming to improve continuity of care for pregnancy and birth. Therapy Privacy Concern: A national report highlights growing use of AI tools in therapy sessions—patients say they were recorded or transcribed without clear consent, raising trust and privacy questions. Rural Health Access: A new report finds large animal care access gaps persist nationwide, with states struggling to attract and retain food-animal veterinarians. Wildlife Health Watch: Chronic wasting disease remains a concern for Arkansas deer, with new cases reported across multiple counties and officials warning about spread. Community Health Support: Baxter Health is seeking federal rural health funds, and a nurse practitioner has joined its Mountain View clinic. Public Health Education: Extension experts shared tips for parents helping teens find summer jobs, including reminders about Arkansas child labor rules.

Rural Health Funding Push: Baxter Health filed its first application for Arkansas’ new federal rural health funding, seeking support for THRIVE at Home—expanding telehealth, emergency response, home-based care, and a “hospital at home” model across north central Arkansas. Maternal Care Innovation: UAMS launched the ADAPT doula integration toolkit to help hospitals in Arkansas bring doulas into maternity care teams, aiming to improve maternal and infant outcomes. Nursing Home Shutdown: The state abruptly closed Murfreesboro Rehab & Nursing Home after survey findings tied to mismanagement and misuse of funds, revoking the facility’s license and administrator license and relocating residents. Workforce Update: Baxter Health added family nurse practitioner Brooke Whitt to its Mountain View clinic, accepting new patients. Public Health Alerts: Arkansas health officials are warning about tick-borne illnesses as bobcat fever cases rise in cats, and they list common human tick-borne diseases to watch for after bites. Local Health & Safety: North Little Rock-based Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health rebranded as Onterris, unifying its environmental services under one name. Health Access & Costs: A national report warns millions of Americans are losing health insurance, reversing recent gains in coverage.

Domestic violence access: Women and Children First cut the ribbon on Arkansas’ first comprehensive Family Peace Center in Little Rock, adding on-site court advocacy plus medical and mental health services for survivors and their children. Maternal health under abortion bans: A ProPublica report details how an Arkansas abortion ban left doctors unable to act quickly during a 17-week pregnancy emergency, forcing a wait that increased infection risk. Cancer care and community: ESPN surprised Arkansas softball pitcher Presley Clardy, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, with a trip to the Women’s College World Series. Mental health justice: Washington County Mental Health Court celebrated its first graduate from a diversion program designed to connect people to treatment and drop charges after completion. Medicaid spending snapshots (Arkansas communities): Perryville saw surgery-related Medicaid payments jump to $2,929 in 2024; Danville’s pathology and lab claims rose to $79,019; Morrilton’s alcohol and drug abuse treatment payments increased 10.4%. Public health alerts: Stamps’ water system issued a boil water notice after a chlorinator booster pump failure. Hospital workforce: Washington Regional Medical System announced a restructuring plan expected to cut 86 jobs, citing rising labor costs and reimbursement pressures. Outdoor health warning: Northeast Arkansas reports a sharp rise in alpha-gal syndrome after tick bites, with cases climbing from 70 (2023) to 345 (2024). Nursing home quality: CMS rated The Springs of Barrow in Little Rock 3 out of 5 for Q1 2026.

Medicaid Work Requirements: A new federal law adds nationwide Medicaid work requirements for many adults ages 19–64, with states needing implementation by Jan. 1, 2027—raising concerns for older adults and families who rely on coverage. Maternal Care Access: Arkansas Advocate reports Rogers hospital will be first to use Arkansas’ initiative for doulas, aiming to expand support in maternal healthcare. Pediatric Whole-Family Support: HealthySteps is bringing whole-family care into Arkansas pediatric clinics by embedding specialists in well-child visits to screen for developmental, behavioral, and social needs. Long-Term Care Costs: A national map shows nursing home costs climbing fast, with Alaska near $334K annually and labor shortages driving the gap—relevant for Arkansas families planning long-term care. Community Health & Safety: Fort Smith directors discussed expanding injury pay policies after a police officer was critically hurt; and Arkansas State Park Rangers shot a machete-armed man near Pinnacle Mountain, with another injured person taken to UAMS. Local Food Security: Fayetteville Public Schools is offering free summer meals for kids at multiple sites June 1–July 31. Water & Health: Residents in Eudora say a water crisis is affecting health and forcing some to leave homes.

Nursing Home Oversight: CMS ownership records show The Green House Cottages of Poplar Grove in Little Rock is run by Mark Kelly Thompson 2020 Children’s Trust and earned a Q1 2026 overall CMS rating of 1, below the Arkansas average of 3.4, with no reported fines or penalties that quarter. Public Health Alert: A boil order was issued for parts of Alma after a water main leak on Dean Springs Road; residents are told to boil water for one minute and discard ice made with unboiled water. Mental Health Workforce: Utah is continuing its Youth Mental Health Corps expansion, and Arkansas is set to join the next school year as the near-peer training model scales to more states. Veterinary Care Access: Arkansas State University’s new vet school in Jonesboro is preparing for its inaugural class of 120 students this fall, aiming to address underserved rural counties. Pharmacy Policy Fight: CVS sued Tennessee over the Fair Rx Act, a move tied to PBM rules; Arkansas previously faced a similar measure that was paused by a federal judge. Safety & Violence: Arkansas State Park Rangers shot and killed a machete-armed man near Pinnacle Mountain State Park; a separate Saline County club shooting left one teen dead and two others injured.

Women’s Access to Care: UAMS is expanding its women’s mobile health clinic to Eureka Springs, bringing prenatal, postpartum, labs, and breast/cervical cancer screenings directly to patients—starting every second Tuesday at Eureka Springs Hospital, with hopes to add more visits. SNAP Summer EBT: Arkansas is among the states confirmed to offer Summer EBT/SUN Bucks in June, providing $120 per school-age child for SNAP-approved groceries during the summer break. Maternal Health Under Abortion Ban: A new report highlights how Arkansas’ near-total abortion ban can worsen outcomes in life-threatening miscarriage cases, leaving patients and clinicians navigating delays. Pharmacy Policy Watch (Regional): Tennessee’s FAIR Rx Act—aimed at limiting PBM/insurer ownership ties to pharmacies—faces a CVS lawsuit, a move that could ripple across retail pharmacy competition. Public Health & Safety: Arkansas’ AG announced a $5.5 million settlement with Family Dollar over rat-infested distribution conditions in West Memphis, tied to FDA actions and recalls. Community Health Support: The Peitz Cancer Support House will host its annual Honor Walk June 6 at ASUMH, honoring cancer survivors and remembering those lost. Healthcare Workforce/Tech: Baxter Health information systems director David Fry retires after 33 years, marking major milestones from EMRs to telehealth and remote monitoring.

Nursing Home Watch: CMS rated The Blossoms at Woodland Hills in Little Rock a 1 out of 5 for Q1, with no fines reported but a long-running low overall score that trails Arkansas’ 3.4 state average. Abortion Court Fight: A Pulaski County judge revived a lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ near-total abortion ban after the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down a key procedural law, keeping the case alive. Online Kids Protection: Arkansas AG James joined a bipartisan coalition urging Congress to reject the KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state power to curb online harms to children. Maternal Care Access: Rogers hospital is set to be first in Arkansas to use the state’s initiative for doulas in maternal healthcare. Public Safety: One person was killed and two injured in a shooting outside a Saline County party venue, according to the sheriff’s office. Community Health: Lyon College opened a dental clinic in Little Rock with a patient assistance fund partnership to expand access for uninsured patients. Sports & Health: BYU track heads to NCAA West Regionals in Fayetteville with big hopes—while the summer shift is already showing up in kids’ activity and weight trends.

Maternal Care Update: Rogers’ Mercy Hospital will be the first Arkansas hospital to pilot UAMS’ Advancing Doulas and Perinatal Teams Toolkit, training staff to add doulas to prenatal care teams before UAMS expands the model statewide. Access & Coverage Pressure: Pulaski County Special School District is hunting for a new partner to run its school-based health clinic after Mainline Health proposed shifting to a telehealth-only model due to low student use. Policy Fight Over Abortion: A pro-life group is asking federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Arkansas to enforce the Comstock Act to stop mail-order abortion drugs crossing state lines. Household Cost Squeeze: New national reporting flags record household debt and rising essential bills—plus fresh uncertainty tied to Middle East tensions—raising the stakes for families already stretched. Workforce & Safety: A Jasper school board highlighted big gains on state testing, while separate coverage underscores how serious tank-cleaning safety failures can be. Community Health Signals: Louisiana’s new SNAP EBT purchase limits start Tuesday, and Arkansas’ broader maternal and school-health moves come as states tighten and reshape benefits.

Maternal Care Push: Mercy Hospital in Rogers will be the first northwest Arkansas hospital to pilot UAMS’s new doula integration toolkit, training 45 staff to add doulas into prenatal teams under the state’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act framework—aimed at improving continuity of care and outcomes in a state that still struggles with high maternal and infant mortality. School Health Access: Pulaski County Special School District is scrambling for a new partner to run its school-based health clinic after Mainline Health proposed switching to a telehealth-only model due to low student use. Public Safety: Monticello police are investigating a Monday morning shooting that left three people dead, with no threat to the public reported. Community Health & Equity: Cedarville’s summer meals program starts June 1, offering free breakfast and lunch to anyone 18 and under, with to-go boxes available. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data shows Blossoms at West Dixon Rehab & Nursing Center held a Q1 2026 overall rating of 3 (below Arkansas’s 3.4 average) with no fines or penalties reported.