Healthcare providers warned that delays in government payments and services are already being felt in the state.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Representative Steve Womack met with local healthcare leaders on Friday to discuss the growing impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown on patients, providers, and community services across Arkansas.
Womack emphasized the connection between the shutdown and the state’s healthcare system, warning that delays in government payments and services are already being felt in his district.
Womack says that “If we don’t have a solution to this problem, get the government reopened, get back to 26 appropriations work … I think we’re going to create some second and third order effects that we’ll live to regret, with regard to food insecurity and bad health outcomes.”
Womack said that delays in government funding and lapses in health coverage force people to postpone essential medical care, which can harm public health and create long-term negative consequences.
Local providers said the shutdown is disrupting operations and threatening payrolls.
“We, like other providers in Arkansas, are seeing payments that are 10 or 15 days delayed from what they would typically be,” said Larry Shackelford, CEO of Washington Regional Medical System. “Some providers have some flexibility that can manage that in the near term; other providers are very dependent on the timeliness of those payments.”
Womack said the government shutdown is still happening because Senate Democrats are tying the approval of a clean continuing resolution to the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, preventing a straightforward vote. He pointed out that while the House has passed a clean continuing resolution, the Senate has yet to act.
Womack argued reopening the government is essential for addressing broader issues like healthcare, nutrition assistance, and infrastructure.
Womack said if the shutdown continues, the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds, which may expire on Nov. 1, and interruptions in health coverage could lead to worsening health outcomes. He further noted the cascading effects it would have on children and families.
“The way this thing kind of dominoes in terms of creating hardship is going to start manifesting itself pretty quickly, and it will ripple through the entire society,” Womack said.
Womack said he’s “cautiously optimistic” that pressure from constituents over the coming days will force Congress back to the table to find a path forward.
“This thing has tentacles and impacts throughout all of the economic well-being of this country, including the Great State of Arkansas,” Womack said. “And it would just be much better if we were back at work and saving ourselves the heartbreak and hardship of a lot of people who are innocent bystanders in this issue.”
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