Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Senator Ross Sees 3 Major Issues (cont)

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Ross added the capital sales tax on the sale of homes will be done away with as well, while the assembly plans to make it easier for senior citizens to get property tax refunds.

While Ross will work on the governor's agenda, he has one of his own to push as well. The senator plans to file a bill on health care to establish urgent care centers.

These centers, he said, would basically be free-standing emergency rooms, not affiliated with a hospital. This, Ross said, would be of great benefit to communities such as Gurdon and Prescott with no hospital.

Under current law, an ambulance service is required to take a patient to the nearest hospital with an emergency room.

With urgent care centers, he said, time would be saved in getting a patient emergency care, which could result in the saving of more lives.

"The current law is outdated because of technology," Ross said. "We'll have to define urgent care centers, but I'm working with the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Hospital Association on it."

On the topic of local affairs, Ross said he will work hard to make sure there are no unfunded mandates sent to cities and counties from the state.

"This will be an interesting session," Ross said. "Because of term limits, this is my last term. I can't run for state senate again as long as I live."