Internet site lists addiction services
Seventy-five facilities within 100 miles of Little Rock are listed on a new federal internet search engine aimed at connecting people with addiction treatment.
Launched last week, findtreatment.gov includes provider names, contact information, the types of services provided and what payers (such as Medicaid or private health insurance) they accept.
"We know that finding access to the right provider, at the right time, can be essential to helping someone start on the road to recovery," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement about the rollout.
"Addiction demands treatment, not judgment."
The website, which is free to use, includes filters for location and type of therapy, such as detox, outpatient or residential treatment. It also offers background information on addiction and mental health.
The federal government estimates that more than 19 million people in America have problems with drug and other substance use, a news release said.
Report: State lags in dentist numbers
Arkansas has fewer dentists per capita than any other state except Alaska, according to a report on the nation's health released recently by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There were 41.7 active dentists for every 100,000 people in Arkansas in 2017. Alaska had 40.4 dentists.
Washington, D.C., had the most practicing dentists for its population, at a rate 103.9 for every 100,000 residents.
In the report, Arkansas also was one of just a few states that didn't show a decline in community hospital beds between 2010 and 2016. (That should change in forthcoming reports, after this year's closure of a hospital in De Queen.)
Nationwide, the number of community hospital beds per 1,000 people fell from 4.5 to 2.4 between 1980 and 2016, the analysis said.
2 clinics to offer flu shots for free
Free flu shots are available at two clinics in Little Rock this week.
Flu shots will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Baptist Health College on Colonel Glenn Road. The shots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, and people with insurance should take along their insurance card.
Arkansas Minority Health Commission also will offer flu shots at its community health screening day Wednesday. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1501 S. Main St.
Glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and HIV screenings also are available at that event, and people don't need to provide identification or insurance cards to receive services.
U.S. House passes palliative-care bill
A palliative-care bill backed by two Arkansas congressmen passed in the House last week.
U.S. Reps. Steve Womack and Rick Crawford, both Republicans, are co-sponsors of HR647, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act.
The bill aims to bolster training about palliative care in medical programs and to support research in the area.
The legislation has been referred to a Senate committee for review.
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