OT: Vermont is Nation's Healthiest State

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Vermont is Nation's Healthiest State

 

Louisiana bumps Mississippi for least healthy honors

 

Vermont has roared back and once again is the nation’s Healthiest State.

The 13th annual award was announced in Health Care State Rankings 2005,

a reference book of state health statistics published by Morgan Quitno

Press of Lawrence, Kansas. Vermont previously had earned the Healthiest

State honor in 2001, 2002 and 2003, but slipped to second place in 2004.

 

“Vermont is a health care success story,” said Scott Morgan, president

of Morgan Quitno Press. “Its citizens are insured and have good access

to primary health care providers. The state’s infant mortality and teen

birth rates are among the lowest in the nation. Vermont shines in so

many of the health care indicators considered for our study.”

 

At the opposite end of the rankings scale, Louisiana staged an upset,

moving to last place over Mississippi, which had held the No. 50 ranking

for five consecutive years.

 

The 13th annual Healthiest State Award is based on 21 health-related

factors from Health Care State Rankings 2005, an annual reference book

that compares the 50 United States in more than 500 health care

categories. Factors considered include infant mortality rates, the

percent of population not covered by health insurance, per capita

expenditures for health care, percent of population lacking access to

primary medical care, childhood immunization rates, and percent of

adults who smoke.

 

" Our award reflects which states’ citizens have the best access to

health care providers, affordable health care services and a generally

healthy population, " Morgan said.

 

Following Vermont were last year’s winner New Hampshire in second place,

Massachusetts in third, Minnesota in fourth and Maine in fifth. Bringing

up the end of the rankings scale were Louisiana in last place,

Mississippi in 49th, New Mexico in 48th, Nevada in 47th and Oklahoma in

46th place.

 

Results of the 2005 Healthiest State Award

http://www.morganquitno.com/hcrank05.htm

 

The 10 Best & Worst States for Kids

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