A look at pregnancy risk factors among Arkansas moms; new rule limits short-term insurance
Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
ACHI is a nonpartisan, independent, health policy center that serves as a catalyst to improve the health of Arkansans.
Our nation’s maternal mortality rate is higher than in any other developed country, and according to KFF, Arkansas’s rate is the worst in the U.S. A mother’s health plays a significant role in the birthing journey, and on Thursday we published a new infographic exploring key pregnancy risk factors among new Arkansas mothers. We found that for every 100 new moms in Arkansas in 2021:
See the full infographic for more findings and takeaways. The infographic is the second installment in our 100 Arkansas Moms series, which began with a look at key pre-pregnancy risk factors. The series is part of our long-running 100 Arkansans initiative.??
In our next and final installment of 100 Arkansas moms, we will look at postpartum risk factors. Discover related materials on our Maternal and Infant Health topic page.
From Our Blog
The current federal administration has issued a final rule limiting the duration of short-term health insurance. The plans are typically purchased by people in temporary situations, such as those transitioning between jobs, waiting for employer-sponsored coverage to begin, or seeking coverage outside of an open enrollment period. ACHI Senior Policy Analyst Jennifer Wessel examines what the rule means for insurers and consumers.
Our Latest Explainer
领英推荐
As states seek to improve access to health care in rural areas and address physician shortages, one available option is to participate in collaborative initiatives that allow healthcare professionals to practice across state lines under shared rules and policies. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact provides an expedited pathway for these professionals to be licensed to practice across state lines. Our latest explainer gives an overview of the compact and details why Arkansas has so far not participated.
From Our CEO
It’s now been more than a decade since coverage began under Arkansas’s innovative Medicaid expansion program. In his column for the latest issue of the Healthcare Journal of Arkansas, ACHI President and CEO Joseph W. Thompson, MD, MPH looks back at the past 10 years to assess the impact of a program that has served nearly 1 in 4 Arkansans and discusses why some Southern states that have not expanded Medicaid are eyeing the program as a possible model. Learn more about Arkansas Medicaid during Medicaid Awareness Month on our topic page.
Public Health Week
The first full week of April is National Public Health Week, an annual recognition of the contributions of public health and a time to highlight issues important to improving our nation’s health. For Thursday’s theme, new tools and innovations, we highlighted our symposium from last fall when we invited leaders from a variety of fields to discuss how artificial intelligence and other innovations could impact the future of health care in Arkansas. Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for more on National Public Health Week.
Thank you for subscribing to the ACHI Weekly Roundup. We will continue to provide updates and critical insights on emerging and existing health issues. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to your colleagues who may be interested in this content and encourage them to subscribe for updates via email.
Dr. Joe Thompson, ACHI president and CEO