Arkansas ranks near bottom in health care scorecard

By Eileen McGaurin

More than 37 percent of children in Arkansas are overweight, according to a new study, one of the reasons the state was ranked 48th in a national health care survey.

The report from the Commonwealth Fund released Wednesday was a state-by-state ranking of health care performance records. It examined 38 indicators of quality of health care including access, quality and costs.

Arkansas did climb up one spot from the previous year, stated the report, partly because healthcare for children has improved. The Commonwealth report found that more than 92 percent of children ages 0 to 17 currently have health insurance.

The report also found that 23 percent of adults are currently smokers, another reason for the lower ranking.

Breast cancer deaths in the state were reported at 24.3 per 100,000 women. Suicide rates were 14.2 per 100,000.

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation in favor of a national health-care plan.

States that ranked lower were Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi.

To read the full report go to commonwealthfund.org