AHRQ’s Updated State Snapshots Show Variations in Health Care Quality

Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine and North Dakota ranked highest among 50 states and the District of Columbia in updated assessments of health care quality, according to AHRQ’s online State Snapshots. The interactive resource evaluates states based on more than 250 measures of health care quality and access. Drawn from the most recently available data in AHRQ’s 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (QDR), the State Snapshots show how each state fared according to prevalence of diseases and conditions; health status of priority populations; insurance status; access to care; type of care and setting of care. While the 2016 QDR shows that overall quality of health care continues to improve gradually each year, the State Snapshots reveal substantial variations across states and sizable disparities related to race, ethnicity, income and other factors. Access a new AHRQ infographic for State Snapshots highlights.