Vermont Business MagazineIn the country’s annual health checkup, Vermont ranks #2 this year when compared with other states – according to United Health Foundation’sAmerica’s Health RankingsAnnual Report. Hawaii was first; Louisiana was last.Vermont scored high rankings for its low violent crime rate, low infant mortality rate and low percentage of uninsured residents; the study said it faces challenges related to its disparity in health status by education levels, high prevalence of excessive drinking and high incidence of pertussis.Vermont joins other Northeast states in “Top 10” –Massachusetts (#3), New Hampshire (#5) and Connecticut (#6). Vermont was first in 2007, and again in 2009-2011 and has been second since. The state was #20 in 1990, the first year of the report.
Nationwide, Americans are smoking less and living less sedentary lives, but rising rates of drugdeaths – including illegal and prescription drug abuse – diabetes, obesity and children in povertythreaten nation’s health. United Health Foundation will publish new reports in 2016 to offer more information to help improve public health.
The report’s national data show that in 2015, Americans are making meaningful progress on key health metrics including smoking less and leading less sedentary lives, but rising rates of drug deaths – including deaths from illegal drug use and prescription drug abuse – obesity, diabetes and children in poverty signal serious challenges ahead. United Health Foundation produces theAmerica’s Health RankingsAnnual Reportto provide actionable, data-driven insights that stakeholders can use to effect change in a state or nationally.
Vermont’s overall health
The 2015 America’s Health Rankings Annual Report finds Vermont has a combination of strengths and challenges.
Vermont’s Strengths
- Low violent crime rate
- Low infant mortality rate
- Low percentage of uninsured population
Vermont’s Weaknesses
- Large disparity in health status by education level
- High prevalence of excessive drinking
- High incidence of pertussis
Key Vermont challenges addressed by UnitedHealthcare and Optum programs
UnitedHealthcare and Optum watch America’s Health Rankings to better understand the health of individuals and communities across the nation and in Vermont. UnitedHealthcare and Optum have several programs that address the nation’s health challenges at a state level, designed to help educate people about living healthier lives, and empower stakeholders to act to improve health across Vermont communities.
“For the last 26 years, the America’s Health Rankings Annual Report has provided a comprehensive picture of the challenges and opportunities facing Vermont’s health, and where we stand against our peer states and the nation at large,” said Renee Rulin, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New England. “We look forward to using this year’s report to continue identifying best practices that address Vermont’s most pressing health challenges and encourage our residents to lead the healthiest lives possible.”
“This year’s America’s Health Rankings Annual Report reveals many encouraging gains in our nation’s health while showing clearly there is much more we as a country must do to maximize our health potential,” said Reed Tuckson, M.D., external senior medical adviser to United Health Foundation. “This report is a call to action to make disease prevention a key component of our culture. We want to ensure everybody – no matter what state they call home – is empowered to make healthy decisions for themselves, their families and their communities."
To see the national and state rankings in detail, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
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United Health Foundation to publish new reports in 2016 to offer more information to help improve public health
In 2016, United Health Foundation will introduce a new suite of reports and year-round information on key health behaviors, conditions and populations to amplify stakeholders’ efforts as they work to effect change across states and communities. This will include:
- New reports on selected populations.America’s Health Rankingswill expand its publication of reports on select populations. In addition to theAmerica’s Health Rankings Annual ReportandAmerica's Health Rankings Senior Report,America’s Health Rankings will issue new annual reports on the health of mothers and children, and the health of the nation’s veterans.
- New spotlight reports on key public health topics.America’s Health Rankingswill issue several “spotlight” reports over the course of the year focused on important markers of the nation’s health, such as substance abuse, prevention, healthy lifestyles and mental health.
AboutAmerica’s Health Rankings®Annual Report
America’s Health Rankings Annual Reportis the longest-running report of its kind. It is published by United Health Foundation in partnership with the American Public Health Association. For 26 years, theAmerica’s Health RankingsAnnual Reporthas provided an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis by evaluating a historical and comprehensive set of health, environmental and socioeconomic data to determine national health benchmarks and state rankings. TheAmerica’s Health RankingsAnnual Reportemploys a unique methodology, developed and annually reviewed and overseen by a Scientific Advisory Committee of leading public health scholars. For more information, visitwww.americashealthrankings.org.
The data in the report come from well-recognized outside sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Medical Association, FBI, Dartmouth Atlas Project, U.S. Department of Education and Census Bureau.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org