Health Care

, ,

House Passes First FY25 Bill, Robustly Funding Veterans’ Care and Military Construction

, ,

Washington, DC—June 5, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This bill exceeds the Department of Defense’s military construction budget request, fully funds veterans’ care, and secures key defense priorities, including additional funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base projects and robust investments in the Pacific region.

Image by Manny Becerra

Congressman Womack said, “This bill enhances our defense capabilities nationwide and in Fort Smith by securing $70 million for Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center construction. Importantly, it displays our commitment to those who’ve dutifully served our country by investing in the quality of life for our military families and fully funding veterans’ care. I’m pleased it received the stamp of approval from the House. I look forward to working with our Senate counterparts to advance this legislation on the path to becoming law.”

Bill breakdown:

  • Supports veterans by:

    • Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.

    • Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.

  • Bolsters national security by:

    • Providing robust funding for the Indo-Pacific region, fully funding projects in Guam, and increasing resources for INDOPACOM to improve the Department of Defense posture in the region.

    • Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.

  • Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:

    • Reaffirming the political limits outlined in the Hatch Act, particularly those of lobbying Congress and using official resources for political purposes.

    • Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.

    • Prohibiting the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Supports American values and principles by:

    • Prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion, using Hyde Amendment language which includes exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

    • Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans by preventing VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.

    • Prohibiting VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

,

UAMS Names Regional Vice Chancellor’s Office in Honor of Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood

,

By David Wise

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently paid tribute to Reed Greenwood and his late wife, Mary Ann, by naming an office in their honor on the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus.

The “Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood Office of the Vice Chancellor” recognizes the Greenwoods’ commitment and support of increasing access to health care for the Northwest Arkansas community, advocacy for the creation of the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus and philanthropic support of UAMS Northwest initiatives.

“At the heart of their philanthropic endeavors lies a profound sense of compassion and a belief in the power of education and health care to drive positive change,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA. “The naming of the office serves as a fitting tribute to their vision and dedication, providing a lasting reminder of the Greenwoods’ commitment to their community.”

UAMS Names Regional Vice Chancellor’s Office in Honor of Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood

,

UAMS BioVentures Awarded Nearly $3 Million for Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program, Invited to White House

,

By David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — BioVentures LLC at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has secured a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to support entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are looking to develop health technology and health care businesses in Arkansas.

The four-year $2,999,997 grant comes from the Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program, which chose BioVentures and 42 other recipients from more than 1,000 applicants. UAMS is providing $750,000 in matching funds, bringing the total funding to $3.75 million.

The Capital Readiness Program is a $125 million technical assistance program to help underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. Grant recipients from across the United States, including BioVentures President Kevin Sexton, M.D., were invited to the White House on Aug. 4 to celebrate the Capital Readiness Program with a roundtable discussion and ceremony that included remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris.

UAMS BioVentures Awarded Nearly $3 Million for Health Tech Entrepreneurship Program, Invited to White House

UAMS' Kevin Sexton, M.D. (left), president of BioVentures, chats with Donald “Don” Cravens Jr., under secretary of Commerce for the Minority Business Development Agency, during a ceremony at the White House to celebrate the Capital Readiness Program.

,

New UAMS Baptist Health Cancer Center Opens in North Little Rock

,

By Marty Trieschmann

Aug. 30, 2021 | LITTLE ROCK — The first UAMS Baptist Health Cancer Center is now open on the campus of Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock, bringing the full spectrum of cancer research, diagnostic and treatment services available at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute to more Arkansans.

“This collaboration benefits the people of Arkansas by bringing the most advanced cancer care in the state closer to where people live,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “Building on our longstanding relationship, UAMS and Baptist Health are taking steps to expand the innovative and unique oncological care found at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute into all corners of the state.”

“The opening of UAMS Baptist Health Cancer Center on our Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock campus is just the beginning of our cancer partnership and another example of our shared commitment to bring the best health care to the people of Arkansas,” said Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “Uniting together against cancer, this partnership will leverage our network of 11 hospitals and 100 clinics to bridge the gaps in state-of-the-art cancer care where patients need these services most across the state.”

https://news.uams.edu/2021/08/30/new-uams-baptist-health-cancer-center-opens-in-north-little-rock/

,

Judge Blocks Ban On Transgender Arkansas Youth From Transition-Related Health Care

,

By SARAH KELLOGG

A law that bans transgender Arkansans younger than 18 from accessing transition-related health care, has been blocked from becoming law.

U.S. District Judge Jay Moody issued the ruling Wednesday blocking the enforcement of Act 626, which would have been gone into effect on July 28. The act blocks any transgender child from seeking or accessing health care related to their transition, such as puberty blockers, even with consent from parents or medical professionals.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in May on the behalf of four Arkansas transgender youth and their families as well as two medical professionals in Arkansas who treat transgender youth. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/judge-blocks-ban-transgender-arkansas-youth-transition-related-health-care

Chase Strangio with the ACLU speaks to reporters after the ruling.CREDIT ACLU OF ARKANSAS

Chase Strangio with the ACLU speaks to reporters after the ruling.

CREDIT ACLU OF ARKANSAS