Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Dr. Joe Thompson, ACHI president emeritus and a professor of pediatrics and public health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, a congressionally chartered organization that serves as the scientific academy of the United States.
publications
In this study, we linked birth and death certificate data to enrollment and claims data to identify infants covered by Medicaid who died within their first year of life, assess their causes of death, and profile their healthcare utilization.
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.
Blog Posts
Dr. Joe Thompson, ACHI president emeritus and a professor of pediatrics and public health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, a congressionally chartered organization that serves as the scientific academy of the United States.
A new study finds that children whose social media use increased between ages 9 and 13 scored lower on cognitive function tests than those with little or no social media use during those years.
The Arkansas Insurance Department has approved an average rate increase of 22.2% for individual health plans for the 2026 plan year, the largest one-year increase on record in the state.
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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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.