Tobacco Prevention & Cessation

Tobacco use continues to present a serious health risk in Arkansas.  Each year, 4,900 people in our state die from using tobacco.  Health care costs resulting from smoking are at $812 million annually, resulting in $564 per Arkansas household in state and federal tax expenditures. The cost of smoking-caused loss of productivity in Arkansas is $1.30 billion.  For more information on these and other Arkansas tobacco statistics visit www.tobaccofreekids.org   Click here for the Arkansas report.

ACHI was a key leader in ensuring that the state's $1.6 billion share of the national Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with tobacco companies is spent on health-related activities.  For information on ACHI's continuing efforts to curb the use of tobacco in Arkansas, click here. 

Combating Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

ACHI served as a catalyst for the state’s unique efforts to combat the epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity through Act 1220 of 2003, a comprehensive statewide effort that is now serving as a model for other states in the nation.  Three years after implementing Act 1220, Arkansas became the first state able to document a halt in the progression of childhood obesity. 

While progression of the epidemic has been halted in Arkansas, more than one out of every three of the state's children are still overweight or at risk for overweight.  Click here for more information about ACHI projects focused on reversing the childhood obesity epidemic in Arkansas. 

State Employee Health Risk Assessment & Insurance Premium Discounts

Traditionally, health insurance coverage has operated within an illness-treatment model paying mainly for medical treatments; little emphasis has been given to preventing the cause of disease before it turns into a clinically treatable illness.  In 2004, the Arkansas State Health and Life Insurance Board began working with the ACHI to develop a system that would identify health risks and focus attention on preventive health care.  The goal: to help reduce the rise in future health care costs while at the same time helping state employees lead healthier lives.  More information on the state employee health project is available by clicking here.

Vehicular Safety

On average, two people die in traffic crashes every day in Arkansas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Arkansas's traffic fatality rate for 2006 was 23.66 per 100,000 population compared to 14.24 for the nation and 6.36 for the state with the fewest traffic fatalities.  Nearly half of the hospital charges incurred by persons in traffic crashes are paid by commercial sources including private insurance, 21 percent are paid by government supported programs, and 22 percent are self-paid or absorbed by the health care facility if the person can't afford to pay.  Motor vehicle injury, death and medical expenses could be greatly reduced with increased use of seat belts.  For more information on vehicular safety, click here.

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