News
Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo., to acquire Northwest Health for $112 million
3+ hour, 13+ min ago (294+ words) by Jeff Della Rosa([emailprotected]) 10 minutes ago 18 views Joplin, Mo.-based Freeman Health System said Thursday (March 5) that it has agreed to purchase Springdale-based Northwest Health, a subsidiary of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. Freeman will pay $112 million for…...
More than $17 million in medical debt erased in Fort Smith metro
1+ mon, 3+ day ago (400+ words) by Michael Tilley([emailprotected]) 8 seconds ago 0 views First Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith raised more than $63,500 in a partnership with Boston-based Undue Medical Debt to erase around $17 million in medical debt for more than 11,000 people in the Fort Smith metro,…...
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cambia Health Solutions affiliate
3+ mon, 4+ week ago (407+ words) by Roby Brock([emailprotected]) 4 seconds ago 0 views Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Cambia Health Solutions announced Thursday (Nov. 6) that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a strategic affiliation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The…...
CEO: Blue Cross should have better year after ‘challenging’ 2024
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (620+ words) by Steve Brawner([emailprotected]) 2 hours ago 46 views After a difficult 2024 financially, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield should have a better year this year, CEO Curtis Barnett told the Rotary Club of Little Rock Tuesday (Oct. 28). The company reported a…...
Washington Regional to begin operating specialty hospital in Fayetteville
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (225+ words) by Talk Business & Politics staff([emailprotected]) 1 minute ago 2 views Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville announced Thursday (Oct. 23) that it will assume operations of Northwest Health Physicians" Specialty Hospital on Dec. 1. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The…...
The Collective opens on Dickson in Fayetteville
4+ mon, 4+ week ago (319+ words) by Talk Business & Politics staff([emailprotected]) 3 minutes ago 4 views The Collective, an upscale restaurant and bar, recently opened at 216 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. The establishment is a collaboration between brothers Don and William Ray and Little Rock restaurateur Chris Tanner....
Gov. Sanders says negotiations reduce size of health insurance premium increases
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (240+ words) by Roby Brock([emailprotected]) 8 minutes ago 14 views Gov. Sarah Sanders said Friday (Sept. 19) she has negotiated a reduced increase in health insurance premiums with companies doing business in Arkansas" exchange marketplace. In early August, health insurers submitted to the Arkansas…...
AACF: State’s rate of uninsured children highest in a decade
6+ mon, 2+ day ago (346+ words) by Talk Business & Politics staff([emailprotected]) 35 minutes ago 30 views Arkansas" uninsured child rate reached 6.7% in 2023, its highest point in a decade, and now ranks 42nd in the nation, according to report released Sept. 3 by Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families. The report,…...
Governor calls for rejection of health insurers' rate hike requests
6+ mon, 4+ week ago (527+ words) by Steve Brawner([emailprotected]) August 6, 2025 6:45 pm 1,476 views QualChoice is requesting that the Arkansas Insurance Department approve an average rate increase of 54.4% for its individual health insurance plans for 2026, while Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield has requested individual increases averaging 23.3%. Other…...
Report estimates possible Fort Smith metro losses in Medicaid, SNAP funds
8+ mon, 1+ week ago (495+ words) by Michael Tilley([emailprotected]) 8 minutes ago 13 views Crawford and Sebastian counties could lose almost $600 million in Medicaid funding over a decade if proposed federal legislation is approved, according to "rough" estimates from the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The…...