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The Arkansas Hospital Association, in partnership with the Arkansas Center for Women & Infants Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, recently hosted a Maternal Health Roundtable that brought together leaders from our state's 33 birthing hospitals to make Arkansas a healthier place for mothers and babies. The convening offered stakeholders a strategic opportunity to move beyond legislative victories and put collaborative work into practice.
As evidenced by the passing of the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act earlier this year, improving maternal health is a top priority for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the health-care community, and for good reason. Only 25 of our 75 counties have a hospital with a labor and delivery department. The closure of one more would place an unsustainable strain on the remaining facilities and further diminish access to specialized care for moms and babies.
A healthier population also strengthens our state's workforce and economy, underscoring the vital connection between a strong health-care system and a prosperous Arkansas.
The 2025 legislative session made significant strides to advance the work of improving health-care access for pregnant women. In partnership with Governor Sanders, the 95th General Assembly passed several key pieces of legislation, including a $45 million investment in maternal health. That investment increases Medicaid reimbursement for prenatal and postpartum care as well as professional fees for labor and delivery. Arkansas Medicaid also implemented a process whereby certain pregnant moms are presumed eligible for the Medicaid program, which streamlines the Medicaid application process and allows for better continuity of care.
In addition, the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act allows pregnant women greater access to depression screening, remote blood pressure monitoring, and medically necessary ultrasound procedures, and gives families greater access to resources like doulas and community health workers.
While legislation provides a foundation, the real work is in the execution at the local level. That is why the roundtable was so important. We brought together hospital leaders, policymakers, state health officials and advocates to establish a shared strategy for improving maternal health outcomes. The focus was on translating recent legislative gains into tangible, on-the-ground improvements in care.
During the roundtable, we heard from partners like Dr. Nirvana Manning, who leads the ACWIH, and Sen. John Boozman, whose federal grant supported ACWIH's founding. The discussion made it clear: Improving maternal health is a collaborative undertaking, not the sole responsibility of any single hospital.
The roundtable concluded with a discussion on what statewide alignment could look like, exploring opportunities for joint training, data- sharing and education on maternal warning signs. These collaborative actions are laying the groundwork for a future where every mom has access to the care she needs, ensuring a safer, healthier future for Arkansas families.
The Arkansas Hospital Association is committed to this work for the long term. That means we'll continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our hospitals and improve maternal care, while urging our state's leaders and health-care stakeholders to continue supporting these vital legislative efforts.
Jodiane Tritt is the executive vice president of the Arkansas Hospital Association.