UNLOCKING HEALTHCARE ACCESS
REPEALING CERTIFICATE OF NEED IN ARKANSAS
THE PROBLEM
Arkansas’ current Certificate of Need (CON) and Permits of Approval laws for services such as home health, hospice, nursing homes, and psychiatric facilities allow unelected officials and competing providers to block the construction or expansion of healthcare facilities. This system restricts access to essential healthcare services, creating barriers to expanding care options and reducing competition, ultimately burdening both patients and providers.
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FACTS ABOUT CON REFORM
Arkansas ranks 48th in the nation for youth mental health, highlighting a critical shortage of mental health resources and services for children and adolescents.
Critical Mental Health Ranking:
Moratorium on Psychiatric Facilities:
Arkansas is the only state with a moratorium specifically prohibiting the addition of beds or the construction of new Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), creating an artificial shortage and severely limiting access to mental health care.
Impact of Certificate of Need (CON) Laws:
A 2021 study found that states with CON laws targeting psychiatric services, such as Arkansas, have significantly fewer psychiatric hospitals and inpatient services, severely restricting access to necessary care.
Aging Population with Limited Capacity:
Arkansas's growing elderly population, particularly those aged 85 and over, faces limited access to nursing home care due to stagnant bed availability under CON restrictions.
SOLUTIONS
Repealing Arkansas’s restrictive CON laws would allow for greater innovation and expansion of healthcare facilities. This would enable the construction of new nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, long-term care centers, and improve home healthcare, increasing capacity and access to care for residents, particularly for the elderly and those with mental health needs.
Arkansas should lift its unique moratorium on the addition of psychiatric beds and the construction of new PRTFs. This would help alleviate the artificial shortage of mental health care facilities, especially for children and adolescents, and increase access to critical psychiatric services.
HEAR WHAT CITIZENS HAVE TO SAY
When 14-year-old Victoria was in need of an in-patient program, her family found themselves with few options. Living in Arkansas, they were faced with two choices: send their daughter to a mental health unit two hours away in another state or place her in a wing outfitted for minors inside an adult behavioral health center an hour away.
Wanting to visit their daughter in between balancing full-time jobs and caring for her siblings, the family reluctantly decided on the adult behavioral health center. The staff reassured them that Victoria would be safe, separated from the adult patients, and that she would receive the care she needed while adjusting to her new medication.
When Victoria’s treatment was completed, the family was blindsided by the news that their insurance wouldn’t cover a penny of her treatment. Though they managed to make the payments, they were left struggling with hefty bills for months. Victoria’s mother couldn’t help but wonder: what happens to families who can't afford the thousands of dollars for essential care? Where do these kids end up?
After her experience, Victoria has become a passionate mental health advocate, alongside her entire family. Together, they are committed to seeing the reform of the Certificate of Need laws in Arkansas, hoping to ensure that all adolescents in the state who need in-patient mental health treatment can access safe, affordable care without barriers.
Lift the Moratorium on Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs)
Repeal or Reform Certificate of Need (CON)/Permit of Approval Laws
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE REFORM
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Whether it’s on the phone, at a neighbor’s front door, or on the steps of the state capitol, we need citizens like you who are willing to stand up and make their voices heard.
TELL US YOUR STORY
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What's REALLY limiting access to health care in Arkansas?
Sign our Petition
Arkansas’ CON laws let unelected officials and competitors block new healthcare facilities, limiting care options and stifling competition. Take action and sign the petition today.
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