U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best States rankings May 6, and Hawaii took the top spot for healthcare. [Becker's Hospital Review and US News & World Report]
For the rankings, the media company examined the performance of 50 states using 71 metrics across eight categories: natural environment, crime and corrections, healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, fiscal stability, and opportunity.
U.S. News rankings in the healthcare category are based on data from the CDC, CMS and other sources reflecting healthcare access, healthcare quality and public health outcomes. Metrics ranged from child wellness visits to adult obesity rate. More information on the methodology is available here.
Hint: Illinois is not listed on any of the lists- that's good and bad.
The best states for healthcare:
1. Hawaii
2. Massachusetts
3. Connecticut
4. Rhode Island
5. New Jersey
6. Maryland
7. California
8. New York
9. Colorado
10. Delaware
The worst states for healthcare:
1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Oklahoma
4. Arkansas
5. South Dakota
6. Kentucky
7. Louisiana
8. Missouri
9. Montana
10. Tennessee
U.S. News also ranked states by the following healthcare subcategories.
The top five states for healthcare access:
1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. Rhode Island
4. Hawaii
5. Vermont
The bottom five states for healthcare access:
1. Mississippi
2. Alaska
3. Wyoming
4. Nevada
5. Oklahoma
The top five states for healthcare quality:
1. Hawaii
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. California
5. Delaware
The bottom five states for healthcare quality:
1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. South Dakota
4. Kentucky
5. Oklahoma
The top five states for public health:
1. New Jersey
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. California
5. Connecticut
The bottom five states for public health:
1. West Virginia
2. Arkansas
3. Mississippi
4. Tennessee
5. Oklahoma
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