Community Health Stories, ideas, and information from the Arkansas Primary Care Association.
SEPTEMBER 2026
chc-ar.org
Community Health Centers of Arkansas Awarded More Than $2 Million in Rural Health Transformation Funds
CHCA Awarded More Than $2 Million in Rural Health Transformation Funds Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. (CHCA) has been selected as a recipient of two prestigious Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grants totaling $2,041,804.00, announced Aug. 27 by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The awards recognize CHCA's innovative approach to modernizing rural healthcare delivery across Arkansas's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Out of more than 700 applications nationwide, CHCA was among only 51 projects selected to receive funding in this highly competitive first round. The two Transformative Initiatives Funded include the following.
1. Arkansas Community Health Intelligence Platform ($1,911,394.00) This would establish a shared technology platform uniting Arkansas's 13 federally qualified health centers. The initiative will create health information exchange connections, deploy population health analytics, implement interoperability tools, enhance cybersecurity services, and provide comprehensive implementation support across 66 Arkansas counties.
2. Arkansas FQHC Clinical Decision Support and Specialty Access Initiative ($130,410.00) This initiative implements VisualDx software and specialized training to enhance diagnostic capabilities for FQHC clinicians. The program will help participating clinicians more effectively diagnose and manage complex conditions that often require specialty care input, improving patient outcomes while reducing unnecessary referrals.
Click here for a Clip of the Press Conference
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"This funding represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen healthcare access for rural Arkansans," said CHCA’s Chief Executive Officer Lanita S. Shaverd, PharmD. "We are proud that our patient-centered approach was recognized among hundreds of competitive proposals. These investments will enable our health centers to better serve our members and the broader rural communities we support." CHCA's projects will serve patients across Arkansas's rural and underserved regions, improving access to specialty care, preventive screening, and telehealth services. By connecting clinical networks and enabling data sharing, these initiatives strengthen the entire rural healthcare ecosystem. The awards are part of Arkansas's first round of RHTP funding, totaling $149.2 million across more than 50 recipient projects. The state anticipates receiving approximately $1 billion in RHTP funding over the next five years. Governor Sanders said additional funding for year 1 projects will be announced at a later date. For more information about CHCA and its rural health initiatives, visit https://arkansasrhtp.com.
FQHCs Represented In Maternal Health Roundtable 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.
Laida Egbosimba, Dr. Franziska Haydanek, and Jay Battle
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.
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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. Emily Groucher, Community Clinic
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."
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Dr. Susan Ward-Jones
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 https://myarkansasbirth.org
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HIV Kick-Off Training
Kevin Holmes
Dr. Christopher Roby
CHCA recently held its annual HIV Kick-off training for health centers. Participants learned key statistics for Arkansas and heard a featured presentation from Dr. Christopher Roby from the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi. They also gained perspective from college students in YASH (Young Ambassadors for Student Health) at Philander Smith University on the healthcare needs affecting their communities. The panel was moderated by Kevin Holmes, CHCA's Target Population Program Manager.
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2027 CHCA BIENNIAL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2027 Hot Springs Convention Center
CONFERENCE THEME
Moving Forward: Elevating Care. Empowering Communities. Visit chc-ar.org to learn more. This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of an award totaling $1,203,478 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the US government. For more information, visit hrsa.gov.