FQHCs Represented in Maternal Health Roundtable
- Katrina Dupins
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Staff and several board members from Community Health Centers of Arkansas (CHCA) attended the Arkansas Maternal Health Roundtable on Aug. 20, 2026.
The event, hosted by the Arkansas Center for Women and Infants' Health at UAMS and the Arkansas Hospital Association, was a collaborative experience aimed at reflecting on progress and sharing ideas for further improving maternal health in our state.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Franziska Haydanek, talked about meeting patients where they are: on their phones. She gave examples of patients she's encountered who are inundated with misinformation from social media influencers and how her platform works to dispel misinformation.
In the panel discussion "Reproductive Health in Action: Expanding Access and Improving Outcomes Across Arkansas," Nicki Hilliard, PharmD, director of professional affairs at the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, shared that data from Blue Cross Blue Shield shows an increase in patients making appointments with their providers after receiving a birth control prescription from a pharmacist, proving pharmacy is an effective entry point into the healthcare system.
Emily Groucher, the women's health director at Community Clinic, was also on that panel and talked about the importance of developing sustainable care models to improve access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare across the region.
Craig Wilson, President and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, shared data that showed the rural population is declining, which has resulted in the closure of labor and delivery units in hospitals.
His presentation set up the discussion for the panel, "From Legislation to Implementation: Policy, Reimbursement and System Transformation." In July, health insurer Centene said it would stop participating in Arkansas' Medicaid expansion known as ARHome. The panelists noted the program will change, but assured the objective is to maintain coverage for Arkansans.
Maternal health has been a key focus for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She and Olivia Walton, founder of Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America, participated in "Fireside Chat: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, Healthy Arkansas."
As a panelist on "The Rural Perspective: Sustaining Access to Care in Arkansas Communities," Dr. Susan Ward-Jones, CHCA Board Chair and CEO of East Arkansas Family Health Center, shared her expertise and experience and summed it up by saying, "It takes all of us to make this work."
Learn more at myarkansasbirth.org.
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