The Fort Smith Board of Directors is working to propose legislation that would require hospitals to give the community 180 days’ notice when closing a major service. This comes after Baptist Health in Fort Smith closed multiple services in April, including labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology, and oncology, and eliminated over 200 positions.
Community Impact
City directors met to discuss proposing legislation that would provide patients and community members with more time to find alternative care. Fort Smith city director Christina Catsavis expressed concern for patients who were left without access to necessary care, including pregnant women who were unsure where to deliver and a resident who was undergoing chemotherapy at Baptist Health.
Catsavis emphasized the need for hospitals to provide adequate notice, stating that the current 60-day requirement is insufficient. The proposed legislation aims to give people an opportunity to establish care with a new provider before a service is closed.
Rep. Jay Richardson attended the meeting and expressed his willingness to work with the Fort Smith Board of Directors on this legislation, recognizing that hospital closures are a state issue.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
