People are Arkansas' most important resource.
That society bears a responsibility to improve and maintain the health of its citizens has long been recognized. A preponderance of data shows that Arkansans fall well below national norms in health-related indices. Arkansas ranked last in the nation in terms of overall health and access to health care for the past 5 years, according to Health Care State Rankings , an index that incorporated 23 health indicators. Preventable diseases, such as diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and cancer, afflict Arkansans at rates much higher than the national average.