CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia isn't doing a good job of delivering health care services for low-income residents, according to a private foundation's report released Wednesday. <\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Fund report ranked West Virginia tied with Nevada for 41st among the states and the District of Columbia. <\/p>\n
The New York and Washington, D.C.-based organization that supports independent research on health policy looked at 30 different indicators in four categories. <\/p>\n
While West Virginia ranked 20th in providing appropriate preventive care screenings and treatment for low-income residents, it ranked 28th in health-care access and affordability, 46th in potentially avoidable hospital use and 50th in promoting healthy lifestyles. <\/p>\n
The report, titled \"Health Care in the Two Americas,\" found big gaps between the lowest- and highest-performing states. For instance, low-income adults in West Virginia are far more likely to lose six or more teeth to decay or disease compared to Connecticut, Hawaii and Utah. <\/p>\n
The report also ranked West Virginia at the bottom for the number of hospital admissions and return trips and potentially avoidable emergency room visits among Medicare patients. <\/p>\n
\"We found repeated evidence that we are often two Americas, divided by income and geography when it comes to opportunities to lead long and healthy lives,\" said Cathy Schoen, a Commonwealth Fund senior vice president and the report's lead author. \"These are more than numbers. We are talking about people's lives, health, and well-being.\" <\/p>\n
Nine of the bottom 10 states were in the South. <\/p>\n
The report used the most current data available, generally from 2010-2011. The goal is to prompt state policymakers and health care leaders to use the data to target resources for improvements for low-income residents. <\/p>\n
West Virginia is already taking steps to do that. <\/p>\n
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Report: W.Va. lagging on health care for poor<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia isn't doing a good job of delivering health care services for low-income residents, according to a private foundation's report released Wednesday. The Commonwealth Fund report ranked West Virginia tied with Nevada for 41st among the states and the District of Columbia. Continue reading