A new report assessing the state of primary care in the U.S. reveals both positive signs and persistent challenges in Arkansas. Published February 18 by the Milbank Memorial Fund, the report, “The Health of U.S. Primary Care: 2025 Scorecard Report — The …
Since 2013, March 20 has been designated World Oral Health Day, an observance dedicated to raising global awareness of oral health issues. Oral disease can affect a person’s quality of life and lead to significant health problems, such as heart disease, …
The 2025 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report reveals significant differences in health across Arkansas counties. While some counties stand out as among the healthiest in the nation, others continue to face steep barriers shaped by economic and …
The spring 2025 issue of The Arkansas Family Physician, the official publication of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians, includes an article spotlighting our analysis of travel time to delivery facilities for Arkansas mothers. We reviewed data on …
Average Annualized Medical Expenditures in Northwest Arkansas Total medical expenditures in 2021 for the four counties spotlighted here ranged from $103 million in Madison County to nearly $1.2 billion in Benton County, an elevenfold difference due in …
A study by researchers with ACHI and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers new insight into Arkansas’s medical marijuana program, examining issues such as the conditions for which people are qualified for medical marijuana use, evidence …
From his early career as a Texas minister to the nearly five-decades he spent as a leader in Northwest Arkansas behavioral health, David L. Williams III, PhD, of Fayetteville dedicated his life to helping others find solace and support when they needed it …
February is American Heart Month, a time when Americans are urged to take steps to reduce their risks for heart disease. The heart disease risks associated with smoking are well known, but a growing body of evidence also adds weight to calls for more …
ACHI recently launched a new tool to help policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders examine acute behavioral health events in Arkansas. In an interview with public radio station KUAF, ACHI Interim President and CEO Craig Wilson discusses …
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued an updated recommendation in January advising that all women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis. The recommendation also includes revised guidance for postmenopausal women under 65 with …
The rising number of prior authorization requests in Medicare Advantage plans has captured the attention of policymakers and healthcare providers. Recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicates that these requests increased from 46.2 million in …
Average per-person annualized healthcare expenditures for medical care in the four counties were notably higher than the 2021 statewide average of $9,277. Chicot County had the highest average annualized medical expenditure of the four counties at $11,130, …
About 290,000 Arkansans, or 12.3% of the adult population, have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is an especially high-cost disease: Medical expenses are approximately 2.6 times higher for individuals …
The 2024 America’s Health Rankings report, released Tuesday, Jan. 28, by the United Health Foundation, ranks Arkansas as the 48th healthiest state in the nation, the same position the state held in the past three years’ reports. Arkansas’s highest-ever …
Arkansas receives a “B,” one “C,” and three “F” grades in the American Lung Association’s latest report card on the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation efforts. The 2025 State of Tobacco Control report, which can be viewed in interactive form or as a …
Enhanced premium subsidies have been available to individuals purchasing coverage through the health insurance marketplace since 2021. The enhanced subsidies have helped Arkansas make considerable gains in marketplace enrollment, but they will expire at …
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) announced Friday, Jan. 17, it has chosen 15 drugs, including the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, for the second round of price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. The negotiations …
We also found that postpartum Arkansas mothers consistently have lower follow-up visit rates after an acute behavioral health-related emergency room visit or an inpatient stay compared to all women ages 18-44 in the state, despite the importance of follow- …
On Jan. 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that bans medical debt from consumer credit reports in an effort to strengthen consumer protection. While this change has been supported by consumer advocates, it has also sparked …
We have come a long way in recognizing the scope of mental health issues facing Arkansas’s workforce, destigmatizing the idea of seeking care, and incorporating more support into company policies and insurance coverage. At the same time, rates of stress, …
