Arkansas Center for Health Improvement

01/27/2026

ACHI is excited to announce the promotions of Sandra McGrew to executive director, Jennifer Wessel to director of health policy, and Joshua Cook to director of external relations. McGrew, Wessel, and Cook had been serving in these positions on an interim basis but have now transitioned into permanent roles. We are proud to have them on our leadership team! See our news release:
https://achi.net/news-releases/achi-announces-promotions-of-sandra-mcgrew-jennifer-wessel-joshua-cook/

01/15/2026

Today we celebrated Shahed Sufian's completion of his one-year health services and policy research fellowship at ACHI and wished him the best on his next steps in public health. It was great having you on the team, Shahed!

01/07/2026

We are excited to announce that Antonije Lazic, PhD, has been named director of research for ACHI. Lazic was the inaugural recipient of the G. Richard Smith, MD, ACHI Fellowship in Health Services and Policy Research and has continued to serve on our research team since completing his fellowship in 2024.

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement has appointed Antonije Lazic, Ph.D., as director of research. In this role, Lazic will lead the health policy center’s efforts to develop evidence-based research that informs decision-makers and the broader research community on key health issues impactin...

12/30/2025

We're hiring! ACHI has an opening for a data analyst. Get details and apply: https://achi.net/about/careers/

12/29/2025

Arkansas will receive $208.8 million in federal fiscal year 2026 under the Rural Health Transformation Program, CMS announced today. Over the next five years, the program will provide $50 billion across all 50 states.

Arkansas announced its plan for the funds in November: bit.ly/4jlT2CO

Read the CMS announcement here: bit.ly/4qhFhrD

For more on the Rural Health Transformation Program, see our explainer: bit.ly/3YMEUJ8

12/09/2025

Remembering ACHI cofounder Suzanne McCarthy, who died Dec. 1. She is deeply missed.

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.

12/04/2025

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Suzanne McCarthy, cofounder of ACHI. Suzanne was part of the ACHI team from its beginning in 1998 until her retirement as director of government relations in 2019. During her career she played a key role in numerous successful efforts to improve the health of Arkansans, including the Clean Indoor Air Act, a to***co tax increase to fund a statewide trauma system, and the innovative Medicaid expansion program now known as Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me. Upon her retirement, she received a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives for her decades of public service. For us at ACHI, she was also a beloved friend, colleague, mentor, and life coach. Her legacy will long be remembered and cherished. Read her obituary here: bit.ly/48usOcg

12/03/2025

With private equity interest in the healthcare sector rapidly growing, a new law in Maine, SP 416, places a moratorium on private equity firms and real estate investment trusts acquiring or expanding ownership stakes in hospitals. The moratorium will be in place through June 2029, with the intent to give lawmakers time to put policy safeguards in place to protect the state’s hospitals.

In Arkansas, there is currently no legislation regulating private equity ownership in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. For insight into the trends and concerns around private equity investment in health care, see our explainer.

This explainer examines the rise of private equity in healthcare, the financial structures behind private equity transactions, what the evidence shows about the impacts of these transactions on the healthcare system, and how policymakers are responding through regulatory efforts.

12/03/2025

Dec. 1-5 is National Influenza Vaccination Week, a reminder that it's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. Flu shots are available at pharmacies and local health units; to find the local health unit in your county and get the latest information on the flu season in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Department of Health's website.

Learn more about seasonal flu and flu vaccine. 2024-2025 Flu Season Walk-in flu shots will be available at open Local Health Units across Arkansas beginning on Sept. 26. View a full list of Local Health Units around the state. There is no out-of-pocket expense for flu shots, but you are encouraged ...

12/01/2025

Craig Wilson, who was named president and CEO of ACHI in October, appeared Sunday as a guest on the news discussion program "Capitol View." Wilson talked to host Roby Brock about his new role at ACHI and offered his analysis of the latest news in federal and state health policy.

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.

11/25/2025

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving this year. This holiday is a time of heavy traffic on America's highways, so it's more important than ever to take precautions such as buckling up and obeying speed limits. Our interactive dashboard on roadway fatalities in Arkansas contains a wealth of information, including where fatal crashes occur most often, the demographics of crash victims, trends over time, and the role of risky behaviors such as failure to use protections.

The number of roadway fatalities in Arkansas fell 7% in the latest reporting year. ACHI has updated our interactive dashboard examining where roadway fatalities occur as well as trends, associated demographics, and the use of safety equipment.

11/17/2025

Arkansas ranks poorly in oral health. The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute recently conducted a listening tour across the state to gather information and community perspectives on oral health challenges and solutions. The project has resulted in a short documentary film, which will be screened at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock at 1 p.m. Friday, accompanied by a health fair and panel discussion. Register to attend the free screening at the website below.

To learn more about the project, listen to our recent "Wonks at Work" podcast episode featuring Dr. Sharon Lanier, executive director of the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation: bit.ly/44fezXg

City of Lewisville,Arkansas
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Arkansas Oral Health Coalition