State-Specific Reports from HHS on Need for Health Reform

eduTrax News Service - July 2, 2009.

HHS just released a series of concise reports on healthcare cost and quality at the state level, intended to underscore the need for health reform. Data available in the reports include the increase in family health insurance premiums since 2000, percentage of state residents without health insurance, changes in the percentage of state residents with employer-sponsored coverage, and overall quality ratings for health care in each state. Click title to read more...

View the HHS report for your state HERE.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality also released a report with state-by-state quality data, and continues to give states mixed reviews on the quality of care they provide. The 2008 State Snapshots provide quality information that includes strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. The information used to create the State Snapshots is drawn from the 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report, released by HHS in May.

The 2008 State Snapshots summarize healthcare quality using three categories of measure -- type of care (preventive, acute, and chronic care), care setting (hospitals, ambulatory, nursing homes, and home health care) -- and by various clinical areas -- cancer, diabetes, heart disease, maternal and child health, and respiratory disease.

Each state has a "dashboard" containing graphics displaying the summary measures, allowing a clear view of the range of each state's performance.

Sources: HealthReform.GOV, HFMA News.