Access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment could improve if new federal rules are finalized. The U.S. is experiencing a mental health crisis, with nearly 1 in 3 Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder in February of …
Maternal mortality has more than doubled in the U.S. since 1999, and no state has been more severely impacted by this crisis than Arkansas. In his latest column for the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas, ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson suggests ways …
Our 2023 Friends of ACHI Appreciation Event was both a night to honor partners and supporters and a celebration of our 25-year history of serving as a catalyst to improve the health of all Arkansans. The event, held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Clinton …
ACHI President and CEO Dr. Thompson appeared Sunday, Sept. 3 as a guest on the news discussion program “Capitol View,” where he and host Roby Brock discussed Medicare’s new authority to negotiate prices for 10 prescription drugs, Arkansas’s Medicaid …
Arkansas has a higher percentage — 65% — of children in rural areas enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) than any other state, according to an analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The …
For the first time, Medicare will negotiate the prices of 10 of the most expensive prescription drugs under a key provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 aimed at making health care more affordable for Americans. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, the Centers …
Nearly 3 in 10 U.S. adults (29%) say they or someone in their family has been addicted to opioids, according to a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). While opioid addiction affects individuals across all demographic groups, certain trends …
Cybersecurity and the threat of hospital cyberattacks are growing concerns for rural Arkansas hospitals, according to a report commissioned by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to assess hospitals’ financial challenges. Although …
Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2023, is National Community Health Worker Awareness Week, an annual observance that celebrates and commemorates community health workers, also known as CHWs, for their important contributions to the healthcare system. CHWs are frontline …
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) held its annual conference last week in Boston, bringing together a diverse group of healthcare professionals and policy experts to discuss the top issues shaping the current healthcare landscape. …
With a new school year starting, it is important to ensure that children’s vaccines are up to date to protect them, their classmates, family members, and the community. Arkansas law requires that students who attend public or private schools or childcare …
Researchers have found that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other poor mental health outcomes. Parents and caregivers should work with children to ensure their social …
For the first time, mothers experiencing postpartum depression can take a pill approved specifically to treat their condition. On Friday, Aug. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zurzuvae, the first oral medication for the treatment of …
Firearms have become the No. 1 cause of U.S. children’s deaths — with Arkansas one of the leading states in child gun deaths — making gun safety in the home more important than ever. In 2020 and 2021, firearm-related deaths among American children ages 1- …
In his latest column for the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas, ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson discusses new health-related laws going into effect in Arkansas at the end of July, including measures to address maternal and infant health challenges, …
With the heat breaking records this year, it is important to know that the risk of heat-related illness and death can be higher for people who use certain medications. Some medications can interfere with the body’s natural defenses against heat, such as …
In what it called an effort to realign short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) with its traditional purpose to fill temporary gaps in coverage, the Biden administration issued a proposed rule on Friday, July 7, seeking to limit the initial coverage …
Low rates of adult dental care and high rates of premature deaths from treatable causes push Arkansas near the bottom of the states in a new health rankings report. Arkansas receives an overall ranking of 47th out of the 50 states and the District of …
An estimated 10,200 Americans were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in 2022, according to a new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency’s 2022 Fireworks Annual Report finds that injuries decreased …
Americans can expect 2023 to be among the 10 hottest years on record, and possibly even the top five, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S., so it’s important to take …
