Scorecard for Access to Care Priority Area of the AR State Health Improvement Plan
State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2021-2025
ACCESS TO CARE
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About 1 in 10 people in the United States don’t have health insurance. People without insurance are less likely to have a primary care provider, and they may not be able to afford the health care services and medications they need. Strategies to increase insurance coverage rates are critical for making sure more people get important health care services, like preventive care and treatment for chronic illnesses.
Sometimes people don’t get recommended health care services, like cancer screenings, because they don’t have a primary care provider. Other times, it’s because they live too far away from health care providers who offer them. Interventions to increase access to health care professionals and improve communication, in person or remotely, can help more people get the care they need (- Healthy People 2030).
The ADH and its community partners will focus on improving public health in Arkansas by helping people get timely and high-quality health care services.
Why Is This Important?
This strategy was identified because partners determined that health care access is particularly vulnerable in rural parts of the state, which tend to be under-resourced. During the implementation phase, partners came to acknowledge that engaging state policy makers was beyond the reach and scope of the partners currently involved with executing AR SHIP strategies. The AR SHIP partners decided to pause on this strategy until additional stakeholders – with the appropriate levels of reach and scope – can be added. While the SHIP partners recognize this has not yet produced results, it is demonstrative of the thoughtful coordination exerted by partners to effectively implement SHIP strategies.
Why Is This Important?
During the factor analysis of data on dental care visits for Arkansas residents, stakeholders recognized that rural communities are particularly challenged with the availability of services. Telehealth was viewed by stakeholders as a cost-effective and efficient approach towards providing care to underserved communities.
Why Is This Important?
During the factor analysis of data on dental care visits for Arkansas residents, stakeholders recognized that getting information into the hands of residents, especially in areas where broadband access is limited, must rely on person to person communication. Community Health Workers are long recognized as an effective source of informed outreach and education.
Why Is This Important?
During the factor analysis of data on dental care visits for Arkansas residents, stakeholders recognized that increasing the numbers of people who utilize preventive care helps to reduce the need for acute dental care later in life. When determining which strategies to prioritize, the stakeholders scored this one the highest based on impact, feasibility, specificity, and alignment with ethical principles.
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