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Wildfires prompt evacuation in the Carolinas as New Jersey crews battle their own blaze; Iowa town halls find 'empty chairs'; CA groups bring generations together to work on society's biggest problems; PA works to counter Trump clean energy rollbacks.

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Lawmakers from both parties face angry constituents. Some decide to skip town halls rather than address concerned voters and Kentucky considers mandatory Medicaid work requirements.

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Cuts to Medicaid and frozen funding for broadband are both likely to have a negative impact on rural healthcare, which is already struggling. Plus, lawsuits over the mass firing of federal workers have huge implications for public lands.

Bill to improve maternal care for AR families

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Monday, February 17, 2025   

A new bill before Arkansas lawmakers is designed to improve maternal care for low-income families.

If passed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act would invest more than $45 million annually into programs for mothers and babies statewide.

Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Kay Chandler said the legislation would make prenatal care available to everyone.

"As soon as somebody knows they're pregnant, we want them to go to the doctor, make an appointment right away," said Chandler. "If they have a doctor - go to the doctor, OB-GYN, family doctor, wherever you go for prenatal care. But if you don't, you can go to the health department, your local health unit, and get free prenatal care and they can help you get established."

Proposals in the legislation were recommended by members of the Strategic Committee on Maternal Health that was formed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders.

Arkansas has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation and the third highest infant mortality rate.

Other parts of the legislation include paying for up to 14 prenatal and post-natal care visits and expanding access to telemedicine.

Chandler said both doctors and patients would benefit from the changes.

"I hear doctors saying, 'We're having a hard time. We're struggling to be able to take care of women with the current way that the reimbursement in,'" said Chandler. "So, this reform -- the changes in the Medicaid payments, the increase, the unbundling, presumptive eligibility, even covering ultrasounds and blood sugar monitoring -- these are new and innovative things."

Medicaid covers about half of all births in Arkansas. Huckabee-Sanders has said she's confident the state will be able to receive federal funds to help support the changes.




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