The Best States For Health Care

[G_j]

The Best States For Health Care
By Chris Walters, 5:34 PM on Thu Oct 8 2009, 5,219 views




A new report has been published that ranks the quality of health care for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It's not looking too swell for people who live in the South.

One of the most disturbing findings from the report is that "in 1999-00, there were only two states with 23 percent or more of adults uninsured. But by 2007-2008 there were nine."

Vermont took first place, and was praised for its extensive preventative health care program:

The Green Mountain state was cited for its model "Blue Print" program. Launched by Republican Gov. Jim Douglas, it covers everything from teaching children healthy eating to helping seniors stay in their homes rather than going to costly nursing homes.

"You betcha, I feel good about the reforms we put in place," Douglas told ABCNews.com. "It's centered on quality and containing costs. Care shouldn't start in the emergency room."

All Vermonters are encouraged to have yearly exams and adults are notified when they are due for check-ups.

Compare Vermont's outreach with Mississippi's stringent "face-to-face" eligibility requirements for Medicaid benefits, which is partly what put it in 51st place:

Despite one of the highest matches of federal to state dollars in Medicaid funding, the state mandates "face-to-face" eligibility, requiring all new applicants and those reapplying for benefits to come in for an interview.

"As a direct result, 65,000 children have fallen off the rolls," said.
...more..
http://consumerist.com/5377400/the-best-states-for-health-care

You can look at an interactive map of the state rankings here.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Charts-and-Maps/State-Scorecard-2009.aspx

[jwirr]

1. My granddaughter told me that her union just barely kept health care

coverage at the nursing home she works at. As it is they doubled the cost for the coverage. More and more corporations and businesses are dropping coverage for workers and there is not programs to pick them up that they can afford.

[tkarolewics711]

2. They should pass reform with the option of states to opt out

That way all of the states that are overwhelmingly blue states will opt in, red states opt will opt out, and then after about a year or so, the people of the red states will finally wake up and vote out all their ass hat Republican leaders and the entire nation will be blue.

[patrice]

20. Oooooohhh! I LIKE that idea!

[madfloridian]

3. Do you have a link?

[G_j]

5. almost forgot

just added it, thanks,

[madfloridian]

8. Thanks.

FL is 44

[Nikki Stone1]

4. link??

...

[G_j]

10. added nt

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. Yay! Georgia's finally turned blue!

One can dream.

[madfloridian]

7. Florida is ranked 44.

I am even surprised it is that high.

[madfloridian]

9. Vermont is ranked first.

You betcha if given a chance, FL would opt out of the public option.

Those who are from VT and support the opt out must not understand states like FL.

[Odin2005]

11. Here in Minnesota the disabled are covered by the state.

Timmy the Tool will be sorry if he tries to cult my Minnesota Medical Assistance!

Oh, and MN #1 in Healthy Lives ranking, BOOYA!!!

[handmade34]

12. My kids and I have been recipients of Vermont's

health care programs and I can attest to the excellent work the state has done

[handmade34]

13. My kids and I have been recipients of Vermont's

health care programs and I can attest to the excellent work the state has done

[BrklynLiberal]

14. It seems that most of the red states turned blue for this one....

[tonysam]

15. Good Ol' Nevada

is near the bottom, as usual.

[G_j]

18. NC went from 30 to 41 in two years

my state

[BlooInBloo]

16. Good thing the southern states are at the forefront - pushing HARDEST for a strong public option!

Oh, wait.

:rofl:

[Ardent15]

19. Voting against their best interests, as usual.

nt

[G_j]

23. the color

makes the map a little confusing, a lot of the blue is red.

[slipslidingaway]

17. Thanks knr nt

[TexasLady]

21. I notice where that ARROW is pointing!

Stocking up ...so now we have TWO big ol bandaids in the first aid kit...more tomorrow....

[G_j]

22. k

[G_j]

24. ==