A new report from the American Lung Association ranks Arkansas in the bottom tier of states for multiple lung cancer measures, including a higher rate of new lung cancer cases, lower survival rates, and lower surgical treatment rates compared to other …
Twitter recently decided to stop enforcing its policy against COVID-19 misinformation, a move that ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson tells reporters is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. “The No. 1 law of medicine is ‘Cause no harm,’ and free …
Three respiratory viruses are threatening Arkansans this holiday season, experts including ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson tell television station KNWA/Fox 24. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is spreading in the state, as are the flu and COVID …
A new survey of U.S. employers shows increased awareness of employees’ mental health needs and continued support of telemedicine coverage post-pandemic. Released Oct. 27, the 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Survey includes 2,188 interviews …
On Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a final rule that aims to expand access to behavioral health services in rural and underserved communities where care may be hard to find. Under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, a …
Arkansas is ranked 23rd out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in healthcare affordability in a new analysis from the Altarum Healthcare Value Hub. The 2022 Healthcare Affordability State Policy Scorecard ranks states based on policies aimed at …
The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a significant increase in childhood obesity in Arkansas, ACHI President and CEO writes in his latest column for the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas. An analysis by ACHI, as of today (Nov. 14) still …
LITTLE ROCK ― With the current flu season off to an early and aggressive start, the board of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement is urging Arkansans to get the flu vaccine this week to be protected before gathering with loved ones for the …
Arkansas has elected to share responsibility with the federal government to implement and enforce the No Surprises Act, a law intended to protect patients from surprised medical bills. The No Surprises Act defers to some state laws that protect against …
Harm reduction programs will face fewer barriers to obtaining and distributing naloxone — a lifesaving drug which can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose — thanks to new federal guidance. Issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September …
Nearly half of the counties in Arkansas, 37, are “maternity care deserts,” defined as counties without any hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers, according to a report by the March of Dimes analyzing Health …
A rule recently finalized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids to enhance access to more affordable hearing assistive technology to the almost 30 million American adults experiencing mild to …
In his latest guest column for Talk Business and Politics, ACHI Health Policy Director Craig Wilson says more than inflation is hurting consumers at the grocery story. Several less apparent industry practices impact competition, choice, and consumer’s …
Drug overdose deaths in Arkansas reached new heights during the COVID-19 pandemic, with illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other synthetic opioids contributing to the increase, ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson says in a new interview with radio …
LITTLE ROCK ― The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement gave thanks Tuesday to all those whose extraordinary efforts and ongoing sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic have positively impacted Arkansas families and communities. Expressions of gratitude …
An estimated 15 million, or 17.4%, of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees are projected to be disenrolled from those programs during the eligibility redetermination process at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, …
(Update of post published April 8, 2022) On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Internal Revenue Service released its final rule to expand access to Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsides to families previously affected by the “family glitch,” a loophole that has …
As hospitals in Arkansas face mounting financial challenges from inflation and personnel costs, a recent federal court decision offers a bright spot for certain safety net hospitals. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a …
In several recent interviews with the news media, ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson discussed our new analysis of food access issues in Arkansas. “We found more than 1 in 4 census tracts in the state of Arkansas had more than 50% of their residents …
LITTLE ROCK ― In more than 1 in 4 census tracts in Arkansas, 50% or more of the local population had low access to healthy food sources in 2019, according to an Arkansas Center for Health Improvement analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data. “With …
