As winter draws near, this is a good time to take precautions against respiratory illnesses. Cases of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity are rising in the region, and Arkansas has experienced a higher number of cases of whooping cough this year than it has in over a decade. Read More
The percentage of kindergarten students with vaccine exemptions reached an all-time high in Arkansas and across the nation in the 2024-25 school year. Read More
Arkansas policymakers are working to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce, but measuring success will require better data on the state’s healthcare professionals. In a guest column for Talk Business & Politics, ACHI President and CEO Craig Wilson suggests a way the state could overcome this challenge. Read More
We remember ACHI cofounder Suzanne McCarthy, whose impact on public health in Arkansas will be felt for generations. McCarthy died Dec. 1 in Louisville, Ky. Read More
Premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates for Medicare parts A and B are set to rise in 2026 by slightly more than they rose from 2024 to 2025, although the increases will still be within typical year-to-year variation. Read More
ACHI’s new president and CEO, Craig Wilson, appeared Sunday, November 30, as a guest on the news discussion program “Capitol View,” where he talked to host Roby Brock about ACHI’s work and offered analysis of the latest news in federal and state health policy. Read More
Artificial intelligence therapy chatbots are increasingly used as low-cost tools for mental health support, but their rapid adoption has raised questions about privacy, safety, and oversight. In this post we review recent federal and state actions related to AI therapy tools. Read More
This installment of our Data Watch series looks at trends in naloxone prescribing for Northwest Arkansas patients who have high-dose opioid prescriptions. Read More
This updated installment of our Data Watch series looks at trends in prescribing the overdose-reversal drug naloxone for Arkansas patients who have high-dose opioid prescriptions. Read More
Rural Americans face significant challenges in accessing primary care, but there are opportunities for policymakers and healthcare leaders to address these issues, according to a new issue brief from The Commonwealth Fund. Read More
