Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
In this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast, we speak with Dr. Bala Simon from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences about the establishment of the Dr. Joseph H. Bates Preventive Medicine Residency Program.
publications
Community health workers play a vital role in bridging the gap between healthcare systems and underserved communities. A new Arkansas law establishes a statewide certification structure for community health workers and a pathway for them to receive reimbursement for their services from Medicaid and private insurers, with implementation pending. This explainer provides an overview of community health workers in Arkansas.
This explainer provides an overview of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), examining its history, participation rates, purchasing patterns, program waivers, and how the federal budget reconciliation bill signed into law in July 2025 may affect the program and its role in addressing food insecurity and nutritional needs in Arkansas.
Medicare Advantage is an optional component of Medicare that allows beneficiaries to receive healthcare benefits from private insurance plans instead of the federal government. This dashboard shows how enrollment in Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare has changed in Arkansas from 2013 through 2025.
Blog Posts
A new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes a long list of changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplaces that the agency says will lead to more plan choices and lower premiums for consumers.
While health insurance marketplace plan premiums increased nationwide in 2026, the effects of these increases varied widely depending on state policy actions. This post examines how Arkansas’s approach compares to the approaches of peer states.
Millions of Americans will be traveling and taking part in outdoor activities over the Memorial Day weekend. Here are some tips for staying safe and healthy while celebrating the unofficial kickoff to summer.
Maternal and infant mortality rates in Arkansas are among the highest in the nation, but a wide range of efforts are underway to change that. The Healthy Birthing Journey Podcast is a nine-part series in which we explore the data and issues behind maternal and infant health in Arkansas by speaking with the people working to improve outcomes for moms and babies across our state.
Each episode focuses on one of nine points on the birthing journey, from pre-pregnancy through delivery and into the postpartum period, where ACHI analysts and researchers have identified opportunities for Arkansas to make lasting improvements.
In the eighth episode of the Healthy Birthing Journey Podcast, we explore the role of postpartum care in improving maternal and infant health outcomes for new moms in Arkansas.
Podcast by ACHI
One of the best strategies for improving health outcomes involves prevention and addressing health issues before they escalate into a costly hospital stay, chronic condition, or something worse. Achieving that level of care at scale, however, isn’t exactly easy. It requires healthy systems that encourage things like regular preventive screenings, coverage options and policies that consistently support that level of care, and a workforce focused on preventive medicine. To learn more about efforts to develop that workforce, we’re joined on this episode of the Wonks at Work podcast by Dr. Bala Simon with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences which has received initial accreditation to form the Dr. Joseph H. Bates Preventive Medicine Residency Program.
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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.