Even when the United States is not experiencing a public health emergency, Medicaid is a critical part of the nation’s healthcare safety net. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program have been the source of coverage for more than one in three Arkansans. Read More
In recent media interviews, ACHI Director of Analytics Mike Motley discussed a new report by ACHI showing that during the 2020-21 school year more than one in four (26%) public school-age children had a BMI measurement classified as obese, up from 23% the previous year. This is the highest obesity rate and the highest single-year increase in the obesity rate since data collection began in 2003. Read More
Several Medicare rule changes that were aimed at expanding telehealth access during the COVID-19 public health emergency will continue for at least five months beyond the end of the emergency under key provisions Congress included in the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The public health emergency is currently set to expire April 22, barring extensions. Read More
Arkansas Medicaid officials will soon be faced with one of the largest administrative tasks in the program’s history – redetermining the eligibility of thousands of beneficiaries after years-long delays due to COVID-19. Read More
In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson devotes his latest column for the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas to a discussion of the disease, its prevalence in Arkansas, disparities in its impact, and barriers to screening ”• which is now recommended beginning at age 45 for people at average risk. Read More
The percentage of Arkansas public school students with a body mass index (BMI) measurement in the obese range increased to a record level in the 2020-21 school year – results that coincide with the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic – according to a new ACHI report on childhood obesity. Read More
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now have authority to regulate synthetic nicotine under provisions included in the federal omnibus spending bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law today by President Joe Biden. This new authority will expand the FDA’s existing authority to regulate tobacco plant-based nicotine in vaping products to include nicotine made in labs. Read More
This infographic illustrates information about e-cigarette use among Arkansas public school students and provides potential state policy options for addressing youth e-cigarette use. This is part of ACHI’s 100 Arkansans initiative. Read More
