Resources
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Arkansas Resources
State government
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) – A state agency that administers many health-related programs.
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) – A state agency that administers many human services programs, some of which involve healthcare.
Arkansas Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (OSAMH) – A state agency that supports programs and projects to address behavioral health issues across all DHS programs, determine need for new programs, and ensure that funding is used to meet the needs of Arkansans across the state.
Arkansas General Assembly – Our state’s combined 135-member legislative body.
Arkansas Governor’s Office – Our state’s chief executive.
Arkansas House of Representatives – The 100-member lower branch of the Arkansas General Assembly.
Arkansas Insurance Department (AID) – The state agency that oversees and regulates insurance companies and health plans.
Arkansas Senate – The 35-member upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly.
Arkansas community advocacy
Arkansas Municipal League – A nongovernmental agency that advocates and serves as an informational resource and sharing hub for local city governments in Arkansas.
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas – Organizations that work to improve the business climate in Arkansas overall and in its communities.
Association of Arkansas Counties – A nongovernmental agency that advocates and serves as an informational resource and sharing hub for county governments in Arkansas.
Arkansas healthcare issues
State Health Improvement Plan – 2021-2025 – A report from the Arkansas Department of Health.
Arkansas Center for Health Improvement – An independent agency that works as a catalyst for improving the health of Arkansans.
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) – An Arkansas nonprofit that works to improve overall health and consumers’ experience of care, while reducing healthcare costs.
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance – A nonprofit organization (representing more than 400 hunger-relief groups) that works to increase access to food for those in need, educate Arkansans about healthy food choices and raise awareness of food insecurity in Arkansas.
Healthy People 2020: Arkansas’s Chronic Disease Framework for Action – A report by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Geographical Health Disparities in Arkansas – A report by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Together Arkansas – A partnership of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, AFMC and Arkansas Blue Cross that helps Arkansas employers deal effectively with substance use issues in the workplace.
U.S. News & World Report – Arkansas ranking – An assessment of factors that affect the health and quality of life of Arkansans.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield resources
Understanding health insurance – Lots of helpful information on how health insurance works and how to make the most of your coverage.
National Resources
Federal government
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) – The federal department that administers many federally funded health and human services programs and is the parent agency of:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) – The lead federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of America’s healthcare system.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – A national public health institute that serves as the federal “voice” on many health topics.
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) – A CDC division that collects and publishes various health-related statistics.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – The federal agency that administers the Medicare program and (in partnership with states) administers Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and health insurance portability standards.
National healthcare issues
Choosing Wisely® – An initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation that promotes national dialogue on healthcare effectiveness.
The Commonwealth Fund – A private foundation that supports independent research on healthcare issues and makes grants to improve healthcare practice and policy.
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps – A collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute that gives county-level insights on a wide range of factors impacting health.
Dartmouth Atlas of Health – A resource on glaring variations in how medical resources are distributed and used in the United States.
The Economics of Healthcare – A primer on healthcare economics from Harvard University.
A Root Cause of the Health Care Affordability Crisis – The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association examines the forces and trends driving up the price of care.
National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) – A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to transforming healthcare through evidence and collaboration.
Healthcare affordability news articles – curated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Mental health news articles – curated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Health equity news articles – curated by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.