What happened on Monday, 02 August 2021
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The Department of Human Services told the committee its Medicaid transformation has reduced spending below projected baselines by more than the $835 million five-year goal, while members sought more detail on savings sources, pass program accounting and community investments.
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee reviewed a triennial CSBG state plan, ADH rule amendments on lead and the cancer registry, the Tobacco Settlement Commission annual report and a DOE report showing statewide AED coverage and CPR-trained staff.
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Hospital leaders told the committee that Arkansas hospitals are at or surpassing prior peaks of ICU and ventilator use and that the main constraint is clinical staffing. They urged legislative support to retain and recruit nurses amid competitive travel-nurse pay.
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
State health officials and Arkansas Children's Hospital told a Senate committee that the Delta variant is now predominant in Arkansas, coinciding with a sharp rise in pediatric hospital and ICU admissions; hospital leaders urged vaccination and layered protections to avoid overwhelming staff capacity.