On Monday, May 12, President Donald Trump signed an executive order laying out a plan to lower prescription drug prices in the U.S. to levels paid by other developed countries. The order calls on drug manufacturers to voluntarily reduce prices by aligning …
The United States has higher maternal and infant mortality rates than most other advanced economies. A new report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform assessing the state of maternal health care in the nation’s rural communities …
In a story published online today (May 14) by Newsweek, ACHI Interim President and CEO Craig Wilson discusses the impact that deep cuts to Medicaid could have on rural hospitals in Arkansas and around the country. The story notes that congressional …
Seeking to improve access to health care and social services in the state, the Arkansas General Assembly approved several bills during the 2025 legislative session that call for Arkansas to join interstate licensure compacts. Interstate licensure compacts …
As the country grapples with what former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy described as a youth mental health crisis, researchers have increasingly focused on the impacts of screentime, digital technologies, and related online behaviors on young …
A bill that aims to ensure services provided at Arkansas’s crisis stabilization units are covered by insurance plans was among the measures signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders during the recently recessed legislative session. Crisis …
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently reaffirmed the importance of breastfeeding and recommended that primary care providers offer interventions or referrals to support the practice. In a statement published online April 8 by the …
CMS sets the rates of monthly per-person payments to Medicare Advantage plans annually, on a county-by-county basis. Medicare Advantage plans submit bids — their estimated costs to provide Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) …
Average Annualized Medical Expenditures in Central Arkansas Across Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski, and Saline counties, spending on medical care totaled nearly $4.8 billion in 2021. By county, expenditures ranged from $460 million in Lonoke County to $2.7 …
On Feb. 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to make “more meaningful price information available to patients to support a more competitive, innovative, affordable, and higher quality healthcare system.” The order builds on …
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 …
