Arkansas health care and broadband get ARPA nod

Arkansas’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee on Thursday gave its OK for $91.9 million in ARPA funding to advance varied well being care-related tasks.

Why it issues: The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered and exacerbated inadequacies, stress factors and monetary points in Arkansas’ well being care system.

By the numbers: The state acquired $1.57 billion in 2021, which should be spent on one among eight standards, together with for public well being. The committee really useful these plans be funded:

• $47.25 million to renovate nursing college services, purchase instructional gear, increase college compensation and assist economically deprived college students.
• $30 million for a substance abuse prevention plan to assist therapy facilities improve services, increase providers and add beds.
• $8.4 million for a home violence prevention plan.
• $6.25 million to assist reopen a Sevier County medical middle in southwest Arkansas, which has been with out an acute care hospital since 2018.

Sure, and: The committee acquired some updates on beforehand mentioned tasks, notably one for $60 million to prop up struggling rural hospitals.

Individually, the committee was required to evaluate and approve a plan to increase broadband throughout the state. The cash — $158 million — comes from the capital tasks fund immediately from the U.S. Treasury and was not a part of the steering committee’s $1.57 billion bucket.

The underside line: About $400 million of the state’s ARPA funds have been but to be allotted earlier than the steering committee met Thursday.

What’s subsequent: The ALC evaluate committee must approve funding of the tasks earlier than sending them to the total ALC for approval. The evaluate committee is scheduled to satisfy Dec. 13.