Study finds regional differences in children's health care

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WASHINGTON — Children who live in the Northeast and Upper Midwest get better health care, on average, than those in the South and Southwest, according to a study by a private foundation released Wednesday.

Iowa had the highest combined score, followed by Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. Oklahoma ranked last overall, preceded by Florida and Mississippi.

The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit that specializes in health care policy, ranked all 50 states and Washington, D.C. overall and in five subcategories: health-care access, quality, costs, equity and health outcomes.

Better access to health care and higher insurance coverage rates translate to better quality, the study said. Children from bottom-ranked states were less likely to get vaccines, dental care and regular check-ups, and they had higher infant mortality rates, the study found.

McClatchy Newspapers

Another study of an open secret.