'Shockingly wide' health gaps among states (VT the best, MS, the worst)

[cali]

VERMONT TOPS 'SCORECARD'

In a health-system performance analysis, the Commonwealth Fund ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Top 5

1. Vermont
2. Hawaii
3. Iowa
4. Minnesota
5. Maine
New Hampshire (tie)

Bottom 5

51. Mississippi
50. Oklahoma
49. Louisiana
48. Arkansas
47. Nevada



By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
A new "scorecard" lists "shockingly wide variations" among the states when it comes to the health of their residents, says the president of the Commonwealth Fund, which compared such factors as access to care, insurance coverage and avoidable hospital admissions.

"The differences we see among the states translate to real lives and real dollars," Karen Davis said Wednesday at a news conference.

ON THE WEB: See state-by-state info at commonwealthfund.org

"Where you live matters for how long you live and how healthy you live," said study co-author Cathy Schoen, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Fund.

Overall, Vermont ranked No. 1 and Mississippi came in last, the same position it held when the Commonwealth Fund compiled its first scorecard in 2007. Hawaii, which was second this year, ranked first, ahead of Vermont, in 2007. The same 13 states made up the top quarter in both 2007 and 2009, although their specific rankings shifted. And 10 of the 13 states in the lowest quarter in 2009 also ranked at the bottom in 2007.

Schoen noted that the 2009 scorecard is based on data collected "on the eve of the recession," so "the worst is yet to come."

In some measures of health status, the top state's performance was double or triple that of the bottom state's, the Commonwealth Fund found.

<snip>

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-10-08-states-healthcare_N.htm

[elocs]

1. The Midwest is a pretty solid white in the top 10.

Where I live in WI is #10. Currently I am on BadgerCare Plus which is for adults without children, so this state has good basic healthcare coverage.

[BOSSHOG]

2. In Mississippi we don't need health care

We got God, by gawd and each other. We're real Americans down here, we don't need no stinking gubmint money. Don't throw no stasticals at me saying that nonsense bout how we get more then we give. And by gawd keep your gubmint hands of Grannies Medicare.

[hobbit709]

3. I don't believe it-there are 5 worse than TX?

Where did Goodhair go wrong.

[liberal N proud]

4. Compare that to the America's 10 Brainiest States are all Blue States - One

I looks very close to the same list I posted yesterday...


1. Washington, D.C.
2. Maryland
3. Washington state
4. Vermont
5. Connecticut
6. Colorado
7. Massachusetts
8. New Jersey
9. Maine
10. New Hampshire


http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-doc...


Here are the 10 lowest-ranking states: Indiana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and, dead last, Louisiana.

http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-doc...


All Red States

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6717554&mesg_id=6717554

[Vinca]

5. Well, I'm seriously annoyed at #5 New Hampshire.

Yesterday I read about a new, government endorsed, "affordable" health insurance plan for small businesses in New Hampshire so I fired off an email to the insurance agent to get a quote. My husband and I are early 60's and self-employed and the cost of "affordable" health insurance is more than 4 times our mortgage payment. The quote was $1,600+ a month with a large deductible and co-pays. If I was 20, it would be about $300 a month. I give up. They might as well line us older people up along the side of a pit and shoot us.