10 | 22 | 2007 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long

U.S. Women's Health Care Unsatisfactory: New Report

A recent women's health report card issued by the National Women's Law Center gives a failing grade to the District of Columbia, and an unsatisfactory rating to the U.S., overall.  Their comprehensive report, "Making the Grade for Women's Health:  A National and State-By-State Report Card," is the fourth in a triennial series which analyzes 27 benchmarks of women's health in each state.  The benchmarks are based on goals articulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Healthy People 2010.

Among other findings, the report revealed that overall:

  • "The nation still receives an overall grade of unsatisfactory
  • No state received an overall grade of satisfactory.
  • In addition to the two benchmarks met by the nation in the past--the percentage of women getting mammograms regularly and the number of dental visits--in 2007 the benchmark is also met for the percentage of women age 50 and older who receive screenings for colorectal cancer.
  • Though the most improved status indicators among states were the stroke and coronary heart disease death rates, the country still receives an overall F grade in these two indicators because so much improvement is still needed.
  • All states declined in the obesity status indicator.
  • The most improved policies among states were coverage of smoking cessation services in Medicaid and increases in the minimum wage.
  • The most declined policies among states were co-payments on prescription dugs covered by Medicaid and requiring waiting periods for women who need an abortion.
  • Only two policy goals were met by all states: Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer treatment and participation in the Food Stamp Nutrition and Education Program (FSNEP)."

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