Arkansas Health Summit 2008: Update

The 2nd Arkansas Health Summit will take place today from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Next Level Events in Little Rock. The meeting is designed to educate legislators, declared candidates and interested stakeholders about leading public health issues, and discussion will center on public policy issues in healthcare and serves as a preview of issues coming before the 87th Arkansas General Assembly. Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Joe Thompson will moderate the discussions, as well as provide an overview of the current state of healthcare in Arkansas. The Joint Interim Committees on Public Health will meet there at 9:00 a.m. Here's the agenda.

Other topics include the Arkansas 2020 study, the economic benefits of a strong Medicaid program, looming challenges in Medicaid, a statewide trauma system, a tobacco settlement update, E-Prescribing, and fighting childhood obesity.

Update: Speaking of the Joint Interim Committees on Public Health, they'll convene later this week in Mountain Home, where today's Baxter Bulletin tries to drum up an audience.