ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — Twelve Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants have been terminated in Arkansas.
In late March, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the changes, stating the department will be doing “more with less.” HHS expects the changes will save $1.8 billion annually, but they also include major grant cuts nationwide, impacting the Natural State as well.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received a $3 million NIH grant to study structural racism and healthcare access among older African American men. About $1 million remains unspent.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) received more than $365 million in CDC grants for various public health programs, but all of these grants have since been terminated. In total, about $202.9 million was spent and $162.3 million remained unspent.
- The Arkansas Department of Health received over $365 million in CDC grants, all of which have since been terminated.
- $260.2 million went to the 2019 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) program; $158.2 million was spent, leaving $102 million unspent.
- $64.6 million was granted for the Immunization and Vaccines for Children program; $26.6 million was used, with $38 million left unspent.
- $40.4 million was allocated to reduce COVID-19 disparities; $18 million was spent, with over $22 million unspent.
A spokesperson for ADH told KNWA/FOX24 that the grants were supplemental funding in immunizations, health disparities, and epidemiology and laboratory capacity (ELC) funding…