Arkansas Center for Health Improvement’s Post

Today, on Maternal Health Awareness Day, we acknowledge the barriers to equal access to maternal health care that have become insurmountable for too many. According to CDC data, Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women experience maternal mortality rates two to three times higher than that of white women. Improving health outcomes requires a collective effort. We can all play a role in raising awareness about the need to improve access to maternal health care. Let’s come together as stakeholders and develop sound solutions that protect access to care. Our members and communities depend on us. #MaternalHealthAwarenessDay

Check out our latest blog to learn about the new proposed rule from CMS aimed at reducing the nation’s high maternal mortality rate and increasing access to critical maternal health services in Tribal, rural, and other under-resourced communities. #HealthEquity #MaternalHealth

Health care at risk

A new study co-authored by Health Promotion and Policy's Michal Horný shows that insurers are more likely to deny claims from racial and ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups for such preventive care as cancer, diabetes, cholesterol and depression screenings, as well as contraception administration and wellness visits. In addition, when claims were denied, healthcare providers charged a higher amount for preventive services to disadvantaged groups, the study found. “Preventive care provides a lot of value to patients and healthcare systems and population health overall,” says Horný. “That’s why the Affordable Care Act mandated health insurers to provide recommended preventive services to their beneficiaries at no cost. What we document is that there are inequities at the starting line.” https://lnkd.in/espTxJqS

State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney urged legislators who just began this year’s session to work with health officials to improve Mississippi’s status as the nation’s unhealthiest state, ranking at the bottom of virtually every health care indicator and at the top of every health disparity. “If we choose the right policies for our people, we will see us move off the radar of having the highest rate of preventable death,” Edney said Call to action: Where does your state fall when it comes to health care disparities? How about accidental and preventable deaths and chronic health conditions? What are the policies that prevent ease of access to treatment and services? Have you done your state check up? State-level policies play a crucial role in improving health outcomes by addressing factors like healthcare access, education, and socioeconomic conditions. Communities can get involved by advocating for policies that prioritize public health, engaging in local initiatives, and collaborating with policymakers to ensure inclusive and community-driven approaches to address health disparities. We have to educate our communities our lives depend on it. #publichealth #statepolicy #policies #healthdisparities #publicpolicyandadministration #patientadvocacy #mississippi

The legislation that we have introduced finally recognizes that long COVID is a public health emergency and provides an historic investment into research, development, and education needed to counter the effects of this terrible disease. #vthealth #vtcovid19 #covid19 #vtpoli

Happy Juneteenth! #BlackLivesMatter and they always will. In bringing you the 411 on Health Insurance today with Juneteenth in mind, please check out this report from KFF that reviews how current health disparities experienced by Black folks are intrinsically tied to outdated health policies and events. In order to make meaningful and equitable change, we must encourage education around the existence of racism and discrimination in all areas of life, healthcare absolutely included. https://lnkd.in/dQ9dwtku

Providing care for NCDs and mental health patients requires “a health system that could deal with the whole gamut of issues that go through, from primary prevention all the way through to end-of-life care.” Representatives from over 30 countries reiterated this call for strengthened, affordable health coverage as the means to address NCDs and bolster mental health. Summary of the Session at the International Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health, organized by the The World Bank and World Health Organization

Discover the latest insights on health policy and disparities in JAMA Health Forum. This article delves into critical issues such as access to healthcare, equity challenges, and innovative solutions. https://lnkd.in/ge6aQcHV #HealthPolicy #HealthEquity #JAMAForum #HealthEquity #intellectualdisabilities #developmentaldisabilities #IDD

This is the most exciting new development I’ve seen in some time. 37% of Medicaid enrollees are children. Given the current youth mental health crisis, there has never been a more urgent need to implement evidence-based digital mental health tools at scale in an equitable manner that is low cost to families. Let’s see what a difference we can make with meaningful payer reimbursement!