HJAR Jul/Aug 2025

58 JUL / AUG 2025  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs imports of affordable drugs from other countries, putting dramatic downward pressure on prices and, if necessary, we’ll investigate the drug com- panies, and we’ll in particular, investigate the countries that are doing this and we will add it onto the price that we charge them for doing business in America. In other words, we’ll add it on to tariffs if they don’t do what is right, which is everybody should equalize, everybody should pay the same price. And special interests may not like this very much, but the American people will. ”I’m doing this against the most powerful lobby in the world, probably, the drug lobby, drug and pharmaceutical lobby. But it’s one of the most important orders, I think, that’s ever been signed, certainly with regard to healthcare or health in the history of our country,” Trump concluded. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, added remarks about the power of the pharmaceutical lobby: “Congress is controlled in so many ways by the pharmaceutical industry. There’s at least one pharmaceutical lobbyist for every congressman, every senator in Capitol Hill and every member of the Supreme Court; some estimates, three pharmaceutical companies, the industry itself spends three times what the next largest lobby- ist spends on lobbying. So this was an issue that people talked about, but nobody wanted to do anything because it was radioactive. They knew you couldn’t get it by Congress. We now have a president who is a man of his word, who has the courage. President Trump was taking money from the pharmaceutical industry, too. I think they gave you a hundred million dollars. But he can’t be bought, unlike most of the politicians in this country.” While many applauded the thought, industry insiders questioned what teeth an executive order has without legislation. Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Adds Jodie Clementson, DO Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkan- sas recently welcomed Jodie Clementson, DO. Clementson received a medical education from the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a general surgery res- idency at Oklahoma State University Medical Center as well as a breast surgical oncology fel- lowship at the University of Arkansas for Medi- cal Sciences. Clementson treats both benign and malignant breast disease in female and male patients. UAMS’ ARConnectNowWebsite Links Families withMental Health Resources for Assisting Youth UAMS has unveiled an online hub designed to equip parents and caregivers with resources that empower youth to develop positive mental health skills while fostering the confidence to reach out for support when necessary. The AR ConnectNow platform offers informa- tion for youth mental health engagement, fea- turing conversation strategies, guidance for des- tigmatizing help-seeking behaviors, and event planning frameworks. Users can access down- loadable anti-stigma materials and validated screening tools for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma, all complemented by a 24-hour vir- tual clinic providing round-the-clock professional support. Arkansas Continues Summer EBT Program The Arkansas Department of Human Ser- vices (DHS) and Arkansas Department of Edu- cation (ADE) have announced that the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) appli- cation is now available, though many families will receive the benefit automatically and won’t need to apply. The Summer EBT initiative pro- vides essential nutritional support to children dur- ing the summer months when school meals are unavailable, ensuring they receive the food they need to grow and thrive. Last year’s program, which served approxi- mately 290,000 children, the 2025 Summer EBT will offer $120 in food benefits per eligible child. These funds will be distributed via pre-loaded EBT cards, allowing families to purchase groceries and maintain access to nutritious meals through- out the summer. The Summer EBT program sup- plements free meal options at summer meal sites in communities across Arkansas. One key change in this year’s program from the previous year is how families will receive their benefits. Families who received Summer EBT cards last year and are eligible again this year will have their 2025 benefits loaded onto their exist- ing cards. Families who are eligible this year, but did not receive benefits last year, will be mailed a new card to the address on file with DHS. Fam- ilies who received benefits last year and are eligi- ble again this year, but have lost their cards, can call (800) 997-9999 to request a replacement card. Donation of $100K to Create Scholarship at UAMS College of Medicine The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $100,000 gift from Larry and Sandy Mahoney to create the Brendan Lawrence Mahoney, MD, Endowed Scholarship in the UAMS College of Medicine. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a College of Medicine student with preference given to a student who is a resident of Benton County. Selection of the recipient will be made by the College of Medicine Scholarship Committee. “Community HealthWorker Act” Gov. Sarah Sanders signed House Bill 1258 on April 3, establishing the Community Health Worker Act. The act formally establishes the role of a community health worker as “an individual who is a trusted member of or has an unusually close understanding of the community that he or she is serving as a liaison, link, or intermediary between health services and the community,” facilitating improved access to health and social resources. With certification officially recognized by the state through the Community Health Worker Act, certified CHWs may now receive compensation for services from the Arkansas Medicaid Program or a health benefit plan. n Jodie Clementson, DO