Healthcare Improvement Coalition

AFMC works closely with Arkansas’ Healthcare Improvement Coalition to help improve quality of care and access to care in the state. Known as HIC, the Healthcare Improvement Coalition aims to:

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with state partners and key service organizations that represent seniors and underserved populations
• Create a forum to identify and help solve problems concerning our state’s healthcare
• Inform healthcare leaders about important initiatives from AFMC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
• Educate others about the mission and values of AFMC

Education

A primary focus of the HIC is to help consumers who are on Medicare understand their rights. The coalition also works to educate Arkansans about:

• Services for Medicare patients who have Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia
• Medicaid’s billing process
• Preventive healthcare
• Accessing after-hours emergency care

Access/Development

The HIC explores ways to create new health clinics throughout the state, so that residents in medically underserved areas can receive adequate primary healthcare. The coalition also works to expand ancillary services within existing clinics, such as dental services, eye care and diabetes counseling.

Policy

The HIC encourages physicians across the state to enroll in Medicaid and to increase the number of patients they will accept.

AFMC HIC members include: Sally Johnson, director of beneficiary relations; Jerry Cohen, recipient relations manager; and Janna Williams, media and governmental relations manager. Click here to view a complete list of coalition members.

The coalition meets quarterly in Little Rock and was originally known as the Consumer Advisory Council, or CAC.

---

ARKANSAS HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT COALITION

Laura Connerly, Instructor
Family Resource Management
U of A Cooperative Extension Service

Ida Esh’t, formerly with the Governor’s Commission on People With Disabilities

Diana Glaze, Health Services Committee
Arkansas Retired Teachers Association

Phyllis Gouin, Regional Manager
White River Area Agency on Aging

Gwen Williams, Area Director
Division of County Operations
Arkansas DHS

Jerry Lancaster, Executive Council
Member for Field Operations
AARP

Randy Laverty, Executive Director
DDPA

Waymond Meins, Former President
AR Federation of NARFE

Chuck Morrison, Executive Director
Arkansas Association of Charitable Clinics

Kathy Packard
South Arkansas Centers on Aging

Norma L. Reeves
Focus, Inc.

Tom Shircliff, Volunteer Ombudsman

LaVona Traywick, PhD
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
U of A Cooperative Extension Service

Phyllis Watkins, Executive Director
Alzheimer's AR Programs and Services

Fann Woodward
Cooperative Ext., AARP, NARFE

AFMC STAFF

Sally Johnson
Director of Beneficiary Relations

Jerry Cohen, Recipient Relations Manager

Janna Williams
Media and Special Projects Manager