The Legal Saga of LaDonna Humphrey, and the Boss She Brought Down
Arkansas Business reviewed hundreds of pages of transcripts and court documents to track the rise and fall of a business that quickly outgrew its management and the role a disgruntled employee played in its collapse. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Arkansas Heart Hospital CEO Lobbies for Higher Reimbursement Rates Amidst Layoffs
New legislation is being drafted that would force insurers to pay Arkansas hospitals the average being paid in border states. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Helena Hospital Sold and Renamed
Progressive Health Group purchased the hospital from Quorum Health of Brentwood, Tennessee, and is under contract with the city of Helena. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Dr. Brian Hyatt’s Trial Date Set for September
A jury trial has been set to commence Sept. 17 in the criminal case of Dr. Brian Hyatt, the former chair of the state Medical Board. read more >
Baptist Health Battles UnitedHealthcare Over Reimbursement Rates
Baptist, the state’s largest health care provider, says it and other hospital groups have faced “unprecedented” costs to cover wages, supplies and pharmaceuticals since the pandemic, but has seen stingy reimbursement deals from insurers. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Medicaid Fraud Charges Formally Filed Against Brian Hyatt
The Class A felony counts stem from more than $300,000 in fraudulent claims that Hyatt allegedly submitted in 2022. read more >
Medicaid Fallout: Insurers, MCOs in State Adjust to Loss of Enrollees
As of October, the Arkansas Department of Human Services had removed more than 427,000 Arkansans from Medicaid since April 1. read more >
by Lara Farrar -
Ex-Nursing Home Operator Faces Prolonged Legal Battle
Joseph Schwartz, 63, who is facing state and federal charges, recently received another continuance in his case in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. read more >
Arkansas’ Maternal Mortality Epidemic: Experts Discuss Systemic Failures & Solutions
Arkansas ranks among the top in the nation for maternal and infant deaths, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. Experts have also seen a rise in the number of patients with high-risk pregnancies. read more >
Arkansas Rates of Infant, Maternal Mortality Raise Alarm
Arkansas ranks among the top in the nation for maternal and infant deaths, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. Experts have also seen a rise in the number of patients with high-risk pregnancies. read more >
by Lara Farrar -
Hanging by a Thread (Lance Turner Editor’s Note)
Fewer maternity wards and related services make it tough for Arkansas mothers and infants. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Arkansas Hospitals Offer Fewer Places to Give Birth
Some hospitals are closing their obstetric units due to financial struggles, creating “maternity deserts” in Arkansas and beyond. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Former Arkansas Medical Board Chair Brian Hyatt Arrested for Medicaid Fraud
He's accused of billing for patients he didn't see or had spent little time with. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Many States Expanding Medicaid to Provide Dental Care for Poorest Residents
Access remains difficult in many of those states with some dentists refusing to treat Medicaid patients. Even those who want to expand their practice are finding themselves caught up in red tape. read more >
Rogers Psychiatrist’s Testimony Under Scrutiny Amid Medicaid Fraud Charges
Authorities have accused Hyatt of failing to enter patients’ rooms at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, where he was medical director between 2018 and May 2022. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Hospitals Question UnitedHealthcare’s Rates
Tough negotiations over reimbursement rates prompt another hospital to consider dropping UnitedHealthcare. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Hospitals Report Margins Are Better, but Still Worry
A financial hit could be looming with nearly 220,000 Arkansans having lost their Medicaid coverage since April 1. read more >
Records Show State Medical Board Failed to Act on Complaints Against Chairman Brian Hyatt
Dr. Brian Hyatt of Rogers resigned as chair of the Arkansas State Medical Board after “credible allegations” of Medicaid fraud. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Empower Health Announces Move From Downtown Little Rock
The company said it has over 400 staffers serving thousands of Medicaid members across the state, and expanding to the larger office will provide the infrastructure needed to continue its model of care. read more >
Hospitals Brace for Another Blow as Thousands Lose Medicaid Eligibility
On April 1, the Arkansas Department of Human Services began reassessing the eligibility of beneficiaries who throughout the pandemic were guaranteed a place in the federal-state health care insurance program for low-income residents. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
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