Ascent Children’s Health Services to close all facilities
JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - Ascent Children’s Health Services announced Tuesday it would close its remaining facilities, including those in Batesville, Blytheville, Jonesboro, Mountain Home, Paragould, and Trumann.
Ascent stated in a news release it had notified the Department of Human Services of its plans to close all of its facilities by the end of November.
In a letter to DHS, Ascent CEO Debby Willis did not state why they were closing.
The Batesville and Blytheville locations will close on Nov. 1, the news release stated. The Jonesboro, Paragould, Trumann, and Mountain Home locations will close on Nov. 30.
In an email, Ascent said the number of Medicaid beneficiaries at each location that it had served since July 1, 2017, is approximately:
Batesville – 196
Benton – 239
Blytheville – 185
Jonesboro – 286
Mountain Home – 375
Paragould – 167
The locations provided Medicaid-funded services through the Early Intervention Day Treatment (EIDT) program and the Outpatient Behavioral Health program.
Amy Webb, chief of communications for DHS, said the department would send beneficiaries a list of licensed Medicaid providers.
“DHS will be working closely with Ascent to ensure the transition for beneficiaries to a new provider is as smooth as possible,” Webb stated.
The West Memphis facility announced is would close their doors on Oct. 17.
The decision to close our children’s treatment centers in the State is one that had to be made from a budgetary standpoint. We have been partners with the State of Arkansas for over 20 years and are grateful for the relationship. While we’re having to make these tough budget decisions, we will continue to provide all of our other inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care services in the State. We will work with the DHS and other providers to ensure a smooth transition. Those needing assistance should call the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care Medicaid Beneficiary Service Center at 1-833-402-0672 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To read the letter from Ascent’s CEO to DHS, click here: Ascent Children’s Health Service Notification of Closure
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