June 22, 2023 – Health numbers released Thursday show a pointy increase in preventable deaths in all 50 states in 2021, essentially the most recent 12 months available.
The variety of premature deaths in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico increased by greater than 35% from 2019 to 2021 and by greater than 45% in Arizona, in response to the Commonwealth Fund 2023 Scorecard on National Health System Performance.
Before the age of 75, premature deaths occur because of preventable causes.
COVID-19 was answerable for much of the rise in 2021, the report said.
The annual scorecard evaluates all 50 states and the District of Columbia on 58 criteria for health outcomes, equity and affordability. For the primary time, information on reproductive care and girls's health was also included.
The three states with the perfect scores when it comes to the performance of their health care systems are Massachusetts, Hawaii and New Hampshire. The worst scores were Oklahoma, West Virginia and Mississippi.
The variety of preventable deaths has increased in all states, the report says. In many areas, blacks and American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIAN) had the very best death rates.
CNN reported that “the maternal mortality rate in the United States nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021, with Covid-19 being a 'contributing factor' in more than 30% of maternal deaths, the report said. During the pandemic, maternal mortality increased the most among Black and AIAN women.”
The researchers also said that mental health issues are a challenge for many individuals. They also noted that many individuals, especially within the South, have trouble paying their medical bills.
“Comparing states on the quality of their health care systems for people of all ages, races, ethnicities and income levels is critical to our understanding of what works and what doesn't in America's health care system,” said Sarah R. Collins, vice chairman of the fund, in a press release. “People in every state urgently need better access to high-quality, affordable health care – especially women of childbearing age.”