Intro and Findings
  
Components
State Snapshots
  
Methodology
  
Perspectives: Determinants of Health Status
Foreword and Introduction Selection of Components State-by-State Snapshots Methodology Variations In The Costs And Quality Of Medical Care: Is More Always Better?,
by Elliott S. Fischer, M.D., M.P.H., Dartmouth Atlas Project
Measures of Success   Description of Components All State Snapshots   Weighting of Components   Improving America's Health: Personal and Public Solutions,
by Thomas C. Ricketts, Ph.D., M.P.H., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Scientific Advisory Committee
2006 Results  
Commentaries
  
Partner Commentaries and Notable State Activities
Changes from 2005, 1990   Determinants  Letter from Michael Leavitt, Secretary, US Health and Human Services   Reducing Disease Burden: Engaging the Public, American Public Health Association

We Can Take Action Toward Better Health for All Americans Now, Partnership for Prevention

Washington's Healthiest State, Washington Health Foundation

Taking Health Ranking to the Next Level: the Wisconsin County Health Rankings,
University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute

Healthy Vision 2010 Summits by the Texas Medical Association

Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) by National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program

Comparison to Other Nations   Outcomes  A National Action Agenda: Eliminating Health Disparities
by Admiral John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H,
Assistant Secretary for Health, US Health and Human Services		  
Health Disparities     Children's Health Insurance by Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder, Children's Defense Fund  

Seven Tips That Work

 Tobacco at a Crossroads: An Opportunity to Translate Progress into Fundamental Change by Matthew Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Massachusetts

RANKING: Massachusetts is 7th this year; it was 9th in 2005.

STRENGTHS: Massachusetts is among the top ten states on 11 of the 18 measures. Strengths include high immunization coverage with 93.5 percent of children ages 19 to 35 months receiving complete immunizations, a low infant mortality rate at 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, a low rate of uninsured population at 9.8 percent and ready access to adequate prenatal care with 83.1 percent of pregnant women receiving adequate care.

CHALLENGES: Challenges include a high incidence of infectious disease at 23.7 cases per 100,000 population, a high violent crime rate at 457 offenses per 100,000 population and a high rate of cancer deaths at 204.9 deaths per 100,000 population.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES:

In the past year, the rate of uninsured population decreased from 11.7 percent to 9.8 percent.

In the past year, the percentage of children in poverty increased from 10.1 percent to 11.6 percent of persons under age 18.

Since 1990, the infant mortality rate decreased from 7.8 to 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Since 1990, the incidence of infectious disease declined from 36.9 to 23.7 cases per 100,000 population.

HEALTH DISPARITIES: In Massachusetts, the percentage of women who receive prenatal care varies from 79 percent among blacks to 93 percent among whites. Cancer is 35 percent more prevalent among whites (508.7 cases per 100,000 population) than Hispanics (375.7 cases per 100,000 population).

CLINICAL CARE: The cost of clinical care in Massachusetts is high compared to other states and the quality of care is high.

STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEB SITE: www.mass.gov/dph/


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Massachusetts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

1990

 

DETERMINANTS - PERSONAL BEHAVIORS

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Prevalence of Smoking (Percent of population)

18.1

9

18.4

6

28.2

14

Motor Vehicle Deaths (Deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven)

0.8

2

0.9

2

1.7

2

Prevalence of Obesity (Percent of population)

20.7↑

5

18.3

2

10.1

11

High School Graduation (Percent of incoming ninth graders)

75.7↓

27

77.6

16

76*

28

DETERMINANTS - COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Violent Crime (Offenses per 100,000 population)

457

32

459

33

565

37

Occupational Fatalities (Deaths per 100,000 workers)

2.5

1

2.8

1

3.8*

1

Infectious Disease (Cases per 100,000 population)

23.7↓

37

24.3

37

36.9

34

Children in Poverty (Percent of persons under age 18)

11.6↑

6

10.1

5

18.8

23

DETERMINANTS - PUBLIC & HEALTH POLICY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lack of Health Insurance (Percent without health insurance)

9.8↓

4

11.7

14

8.4

7

Per Capita Public Health Spending ($ per person)

$ 150

26

$150

26

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---

Immunization Coverage (Percent of children ages 19 to 35 months)

93.5↑

1

89.1

1

---

---

DETERMINANTS - PUBLIC & HEALTH POLICY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adequacy of Prenatal Care (Percent of pregnant women)

83.1

4

83.4

6

---

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH OUTCOMES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor Mental Health Days (Days in previous 30 days)

3.1

17

3.3

19

---

---

Poor Physical Health Days (Days in previous 30 days)

3.4

16

3.2

14

---

---

Infant Mortality (Deaths per 1,000 live births)

4.7

1

4.8

2

7.8

1

Cardiovascular Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population)

273.2

6

279.2

7

385.5

20

Cancer Deaths (Deaths per 100,000 population)

204.9

31

207.8

33

209.1

38

Premature Death (Years lost per 100,000 population)

6,183

6

6,164

6

7,270

8

OVERALL RANK

 

7

 

9

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

↑ and ↓ indicate major increases and decreases in the last year. --- indicates data not available.