Wisconsin ranks 24th on health when compared with other states, according to United Health Foundation’s annual America’s Health Rankings.
The state is strong in several areas, including having a high number of high school graduates, a low percentage of people without health insurance and high immunization rates among adolescents. The number of preventable hospitalizations has also decreased 20 percent in the past five years from 60.0 to 47.9 per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
Wisconsin weaknesses include a high prevalence of excessive drinking, low per-capita public health funding and a high prevalence of obesity.
The report’s national data shows that overall, Americans are making progress on key metrics including smoking less and moving more, but rising rates in death related to illegal and prescription drug use, obesity, diabetes and children living in poverty, show there are still serious challenges.
Wisconsin was ranked 23rd last year.
America’s Health Rankings Annual Report is the longest-running report of its kind. It is published by United Health Foundation in partnership with the American Public Health Association.
To see the national and state rankings in detail, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
