Maternal Health

Arkansas lawmakers are discussing potential changes to the way hospitals are reimbursed for providing birthing services. Members of the Joint Public Health Committee debated a rule change on Wednesday that would increase the state’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for obstetrics.

Arkansas’ maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the country. Ingeborg Initiatives, based in Bentonville, wants to change that narrative.

On today's show, we hear from Olivia Walton, the founder and CEO of Ingeborg Initiatives, who discusses maternal health, paid leave and more. Also, The Jones Center is working to help every child learn how to swim. Plus, a trip to the Bigfoot Museum of Oklahoma.

Amid proposed cuts to Medicaid from Congress, a report released on Thursday from Georgetown University examines the significant role Medicaid plays in maternal healthcare for rural communities. Ozarks at Large’s Daniel Caruth has more.

The National Science Foundation is observing its 75th anniversary this month, but is also facing deep cuts. On today's show, we ask one professor of biological sciences what the NSF has meant to his career. Also, tracking the possible effects of cuts to Medicaid on rural maternal health. Plus, road construction occurs on a less-busy University of Arkansas campus.

In this week's edition of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report, host Roby Brock speaks with maternal health experts about legislation passed in the Arkansas General Assembly and what might come next regarding the health of pregnant mothers.

Heartland Forward, a Bentonville-based think tank, is launching a maternal and child health care center to reduce disparities and improve accessible care across the state. The announcement was made this morning at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville. The center’s official name is the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice.

House Bill 1252, to establish the Certified Community-Based Doula Certification Act, has been referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee at the State Capitol. Though that legislation is pending, the Doula Alliance of Arkansas is taking note of World Doula Week.

As the Arkansas Legislature considers a community-based doula certification act, the Doula Alliance of Arkansas takes note of World Doula Week. That story is on today's show. Plus, we’ll consider wellness in our regular feature “balance," by examining the similarities and differences between hunger and appetite. Also, the fifth annual Leverett AMP Concert Series in Fort Smith is about to start.

Arkansas ranks 50th in maternal mortality and 50th in infant mortality. Bentonville-based Ingeborg Initiatives is teaming up with Royal Phillips, a Netherlands-based tech company, to develop a free Arkansas-specific app for new and expecting mothers to get information about services, improve health literacy and connect to health care.