Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
The ACHI Health Policy Board honored the late Rev. Hezekiah D. Stewart on Tuesday with the Dr. Tom Bruce Arkansas Health Impact Award. Stewart’s widow, Diane Stewart, accepted the award during the annual Friends of ACHI Appreciation Event at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock.
publications
Our updated infographic on individual marketplace health insurance premiums shows that since 2017, Arkansas has had the lowest marketplace benchmark premium among the surrounding states.
This explainer examines the rise of private equity in healthcare, the financial structures behind private equity transactions, what the evidence shows about the impacts of these transactions on the healthcare system, and how policymakers are responding through regulatory efforts.
The 2025 federal budget law includes the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion investment in rural health care. This explainer details how the funds will be distributed and discusses potential ways Arkansas could use its share.
Blog Posts
Oral health is a key part of a person’s overall health and well-being. Arkansas faces many challenges in improving the oral health of its population, including financial barriers, low rates of dentist visits even among those with dental insurance, and dentist shortages in rural areas.
A new study finds that patient deaths increased at hospitals acquired by private equity compared to non-private equity-owned hospitals.
As Arkansas officials prepare to apply for a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, they may wish to draw on several data resources maintained by ACHI.
Podcast by ACHI
Changes are on the way for community health workers in Arkansas. Earlier this year, the Arkansas General Assembly approved the Community Health Worker Act, which will establish standardized training and a statewide certification process for community health workers and will allow those certified to receive compensation for their services from Arkansas Medicaid and private insurers. Unlike healthcare workers who operate in a clinical setting, though, community health workers may not have the infrastructure in place to make this transition seamlessly. To learn how other states have navigated similar transitions, we’re joined by Colby Takeda, co-founder of Pear Suite, a hub for thousands of community health workers across the country.
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Healthy Choices
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Health Policy Board Policy Positions and Statements
ACHI’s Health Policy Board consists of 21 voting members (and two ex-officio members) from across the state who bring diverse perspectives and interests on health. This independent, self-perpetuating board identifies and establishes strategic priorities, provides direction and guidance, and serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas. The Health Policy Board guides ACHI’s involvement in and position on specific policy matters, and it issues position statements that articulate the health needs of Arkansans.