Latest news with #CountyHealthRankings
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GCHD calls on federal officials to protect Medicaid
May 19—MOSES LAKE — Earlier this month, the Grant County Health District announced the passing of a resolution to call on federal leaders to protect and maintain funding for Medicaid. The proposed federal budget calls for possible extensive cuts to the program, which provides health care coverage for millions nationwide and thousands within Grant County. "It came about from our health officer (Alexander Brzezny) who has been monitoring some of the conversations at the federal level and what he was hearing from some of the medical associations of some concerns that Medicaid funding could be reduced substantially," said GCHD Administrator Theresa Adkinson. "Looking at our data, we know this would have a huge impact on our health care system and our residents in Grant County," Adkinson said these concerns inspired her to meet with the GCHD Board of Health to explain why this would be important to Grant County. The resolution was adopted by the board April 9. "Once we get the resolution passed, then that authorizes the staff and I to be able to talk with elected officials about the subject and talk about those impacts," she said. After passing the resolution, the GCHD shared it with all their supporting associations as well as the federal and state elected officials with positive feedback. "It opens that door for a conversation so that while it's not on the docket right now, you know that these conversations are happening now," said Adkinson. "They have those talking points from back home on what the impacts would be, not in DC, but here in Grant County." Medicaid is a public health insurance program that provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with low income, disabilities, pregnancies and those living in long-term care facilities. In an article from KFF, formerly Kaiser Health News, on May 14 the House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to use the changes to the Medicaid program to help meet spending targets aimed at funding President Donald Trump's domestic priorities. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would decrease the federal deficit by more than $880 billion over 10 years. According to a press release by GCHD, cuts to Medicaid could severely impact access to care for 40% of Grant County residents and more than 1.8 million people across the state. This loss of coverage would threaten health coverage, especially in rural areas where resources are limited. The resolution states that, according to national County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Grant County is faring worse than the average county in Washington for community conditions which determine health and worse for health outcomes which measure the health of local communities. Congressional Districts 4 and 5 have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid among Washington regions. "People will stop seeking care because they're concerned about out-of-pocket costs, so in a rural community such as ours, access to health care is critical," said Adkinson. "You don't want folks to have to drive far to seek healthcare and then we already have some healthcare deserts where our community health centers have opened their doors, like down in Mattawa." The resolution further says Medicaid is critical to the survival of rural Washington hospitals by being responsible for more than 25 percent of most Grant County hospitals' revenue. According to data provided by area legislators and hospitals, 30% of Samaritan Healthcare's revenue comes from Medicaid, and 27% of that for Columbia Basin Hospital. Nearby, Othello Community Hospital gets 58% of its revenue from Medicaid. Congressman Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., has said that the country needs to curb spending due to being more than $37 trillion in debt. Legislators from both sides of the aisle have said that spending needs to be cut, but that cuts to Medicaid should be minimal to ensure people have access to care. There is also concern that cuts to Medicaid could have impacts outside of negative impacts to access to medicine, including economic issues. An article from George Washington University said cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could also trigger severe economic consequences. The combined cuts could result in the loss of around one million jobs, $113 billion decline in states' gross domestic products and $8.8 billion in lost state and local tax revenue in 2026 alone. "Medicaid and SNAP programs are not just designed to strengthen individual health and nutrition — they support the economic well-being of communities and businesses nationwide," said Leighton Ku, lead author and director of the Center for Health Policy Research and professor of health policy and management at GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health. Adkinson said any citizens within the community who have concerns about the issue can help by talking with federal officials through hotlines, emails or drop-down boxes and leave messages about how this would impact the community. "Personal stories always have an impact, it's one thing to look at a budget, it's another thing to start looking at the lives that are covered by this funding source and the jobs that could potentially be lost in our community as well," she said.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Map Shows US Counties With Life Expectancy Below North Korea's
Newsweek has created a map that highlights a sobering reality for parts of the United States: in dozens of U.S. counties, average life expectancy is now lower than that of North Korea. Life expectancy in North Korea-a country often cited for its economic hardship and limited healthcare access-stood at 72.6 years in 2021, according to the World Health Organization. Yet in parts of the United States-particularly in Southern states including Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia-county-level data shows average life expectancies below that threshold, according to the County Health Rankings project, an annual analysis conducted by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. It comes as new research carried out by the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), published in JAMA Network Open, found that certain states' life expectancy is far worse than others-particularly in parts of the Deep South and Appalachia-underscoring the severity of health inequities within the United States. The U.S. spends more on health care per capita than any other country, yet significant health disparities persist, particularly in rural and low-income areas. Many of the counties falling below North Korea's life expectancy benchmark are in regions with high poverty rates, limited access to medical care, and a high burden of chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. U.S. counties where life expectancy falls below North Korea's average of 72.9 years include: Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota: 56.9 yearsMcDowell County, West Virginia: 65.1 yearsUnion County, Florida: 67.9 yearsMonroe County, Arkansas: 68.8 yearsKusilvak Census Area, Alaska: 65 years The Yale School of Public Health study, published last month, looked at mortality trends by cohort, rather than standard life expectancy calculations, which estimate how long a newborn today is expected to live. While states in the West and Northeast saw continuous improvements, parts of the South have stagnated. For instance, female life expectancy in some Southern states increased by fewer than three years between the 1900 and 2000 birth cohorts. For males in the same region, life expectancy increased by less than two years since the 1950 cohort. Washington, D.C., had the lowest life expectancy in the 1900 birth cohort at 61.1 years, but it achieved one of the most significant gains over the century, reaching 72.8 years. The Yale study examined the rate at which mortality increased after age 35, which is summarized by the number of years it takes for an individual's risk of death to double. Longer doubling times indicate healthier aging. Regional differences were clear: New York and Florida showed slower mortality increases, while Oklahoma and Iowa saw faster mortality escalations. After 35 years of age, the highest rate-doubling time in a state was 9.39 years in New York for females and 11.47 years for males in Florida. Conversely, Oklahoma and Iowa exhibited the fastest doubling of death rates after age 35-a sign of more rapid health deterioration among their populations. The study concluded: "From 1969 to 2020, period life expectancy increased, although there was greater improvement for some states in the West and Northeast and less for some states in the South. "Some states in the West and Northeast showed increases in the cohort life expectancy greater than 30 years for those born in 2000 compared with 1900. However, in parts of the South, female cohort life expectancy increased by less than 2 years. "For male cohorts in parts of the South, life expectancy increased from 1900 to 1950 but by less than 2 years after 1950." County Health Rankings and Roadmaps says: "Safe housing, jobs that pay a living wage and well-resourced schools are among the factors, often called the social determinants of health, that make up a healthy community. "How these conditions are created, distributed and maintained determines the opportunity for everyone to thrive. Written and unwritten societal rules-and how they are applied-shape conditions for healthy communities. "Rules may be written in the form of policies and laws, or unwritten, in the form of worldviews and norms. Together, power and rules are the structural determinants of health." Yale researchers have called for policy changes to address the gaps in life expectancy across the country. "The disparities we see today are the result of decades of cumulative effects-on smoking rates, health care access, environmental exposures, and public health investments," the study's lead author, Theodore R. Holford, said. "Without conscious policy changes, these gaps will likely persist or even widen." Newsweek has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services, via email, for comment. Related Articles Map Shows Where Marijuana Is Legal as Pennsylvania Bill Moves ForwardMap Shows Where Child Marriage Remains Legal as Maine Ban Becomes LawMap Shows Rarest Baby Names in Each StateMap Shows Fluoride Bans on Drinking Water in US States 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Map Shows US Counties With Life Expectancy Below North Korea's
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Newsweek has created a map that highlights a sobering reality for parts of the United States: in dozens of U.S. counties, average life expectancy is now lower than that of North Korea. Life expectancy in North Korea—a country often cited for its economic hardship and limited healthcare access—stood at 72.6 years in 2021, according to the World Health Organization. Yet in parts of the United States—particularly in Southern states including Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia—county-level data shows average life expectancies below that threshold, according to the County Health Rankings project, an annual analysis conducted by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. It comes as new research carried out by the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), published in JAMA Network Open, found that certain states' life expectancy is far worse than others—particularly in parts of the Deep South and Appalachia—underscoring the severity of health inequities within the United States. Why It Matters The U.S. spends more on health care per capita than any other country, yet significant health disparities persist, particularly in rural and low-income areas. Many of the counties falling below North Korea's life expectancy benchmark are in regions with high poverty rates, limited access to medical care, and a high burden of chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. What To Know U.S. counties where life expectancy falls below North Korea's average of 72.9 years include: Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota: 56.9 years 56.9 years McDowell County, West Virginia : 65.1 years : 65.1 years Union County, Florida : 67.9 years : 67.9 years Monroe County, Arkansas : 68.8 years : 68.8 years Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska: 65 years The Yale School of Public Health study, published last month, looked at mortality trends by cohort, rather than standard life expectancy calculations, which estimate how long a newborn today is expected to live. While states in the West and Northeast saw continuous improvements, parts of the South have stagnated. For instance, female life expectancy in some Southern states increased by fewer than three years between the 1900 and 2000 birth cohorts. For males in the same region, life expectancy increased by less than two years since the 1950 cohort. Washington, D.C., had the lowest life expectancy in the 1900 birth cohort at 61.1 years, but it achieved one of the most significant gains over the century, reaching 72.8 years. The Yale study examined the rate at which mortality increased after age 35, which is summarized by the number of years it takes for an individual's risk of death to double. Longer doubling times indicate healthier aging. Regional differences were clear: New York and Florida showed slower mortality increases, while Oklahoma and Iowa saw faster mortality escalations. After 35 years of age, the highest rate-doubling time in a state was 9.39 years in New York for females and 11.47 years for males in Florida. Conversely, Oklahoma and Iowa exhibited the fastest doubling of death rates after age 35—a sign of more rapid health deterioration among their populations. The study concluded: "From 1969 to 2020, period life expectancy increased, although there was greater improvement for some states in the West and Northeast and less for some states in the South. "Some states in the West and Northeast showed increases in the cohort life expectancy greater than 30 years for those born in 2000 compared with 1900. However, in parts of the South, female cohort life expectancy increased by less than 2 years. "For male cohorts in parts of the South, life expectancy increased from 1900 to 1950 but by less than 2 years after 1950." What People Are Saying County Health Rankings and Roadmaps says: "Safe housing, jobs that pay a living wage and well-resourced schools are among the factors, often called the social determinants of health, that make up a healthy community. "How these conditions are created, distributed and maintained determines the opportunity for everyone to thrive. Written and unwritten societal rules—and how they are applied—shape conditions for healthy communities. "Rules may be written in the form of policies and laws, or unwritten, in the form of worldviews and norms. Together, power and rules are the structural determinants of health." What Happens Next Yale researchers have called for policy changes to address the gaps in life expectancy across the country. "The disparities we see today are the result of decades of cumulative effects—on smoking rates, health care access, environmental exposures, and public health investments," the study's lead author, Theodore R. Holford, said. "Without conscious policy changes, these gaps will likely persist or even widen." Newsweek has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services, via email, for comment.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report considers social rules, power
Johnathan Sublet, who spoke recently at a Topeka Work event, uses the annual County Health Rankings and Roadmap to help the organization he heads, SENT Topeka, be aware of community health needs. (Jill Rice) TOPEKA — Societal rules — written and unwritten — and how power is distributed and wielded within communities are new measures tracked by an annual report that offers insights into health at a county level. The 2025 County Health Rankings and Roadmap report, put out by the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is used by local, regional and state leaders to determine how to understand and impact the health of residents within their communities. Factors that impact health were updated this year for the first time since 2014, said Bethany Rogerson, UWPHI co-director. 'We are focused on lifting up policies and practices that can create the conditions so that everyone has the ability to thrive,' she said. 'Where you live, where you work all play a really important role in shaping health, and that health is more than health care.' The addition of societal rules and power categories encourages communities to assess those concepts and determine how to make policy and practical changes to improve the health of citizens, Rogerson said. 'We know that community conditions don't just happen by chance,' she said. 'So we realized an opportunity to invite people to explore how community conditions come to be. How did our housing, how did our jobs, our schools, all the aspects that we know shape health, how did they come to be and who shaped them and how?' SENT Topeka, an organization that works to support Topeka residents through building resilience and relationships, uses the County Health Rankings for data and health insights. Founder and executive director Johnathan Sublet said the new measures fit into the work the organization is doing. He pointed to the food pantry at SENT, which is structured to work like a grocery store where people have choice. 'The first thing a person often loses when they become under-resourced is choice,' Sublet said. 'When we define poverty, it is not just the access to money. We define it as lack of choice in a person's life. Every single person has infinite dignity, value and worth. We want to do everything we can to affirm that dignity, value and worth they have.' 'Part of that means giving them choice back, and it also means giving them power in decisions that are being made within their sphere of influence,' he added. Wyatt Beckman, senior analyst with Kansas Health Institute, said the broad categories of societal rules and power added this year support discussion at the county level that can be impactful in looking at how the factors influence community conditions. Expanding the conversation can elicit change, he said. 'You can build community power when you organize and act together, and do things like set agendas, shape who's involved in discussion and decision-making, cultivate relationships, and that power can shape societal rules,' Beckman said. 'Power is not meant to be listed as an inherently good or bad thing, but it's an acknowledgement and does help us have conversations about not only the factors that are shaping health, but how those factors are being influenced and maybe can be adjusted.' An example Beckman offered is the education people receive, which he said is important to quality of life and shaping experiences. 'Some of the big decisions around that education can be shaped by people who sit on boards of education. Those boards of education have a role in shaping the budgets and policies and regulations that inform and guide that education,' he said. Communities can ask questions about who is invited into policy-making discussions, including whether they're encouraging and receiving diverse opinions. Partnership and building trust are key elements in working together as a community, Sublet said. At SENT Topeka, focusing on dignity and support are key to building that trust. 'Dignity for us means not doing for someone what they can and should do for themselves. We don't give away everything for free that we do,' he said. 'It means that we don't feel like we transform people's lives or change people's lives, but we journey with them in their lives as much as they allow us to.' Important in their interactions is not feeling as if SENT Topeka is 'the voice for the people,' Sublet said. 'We want to help them understand the voice they already have and affirm that,' he said. 'While we'll help prepare them for conversations, we don't feel it's our job to go in and speak for them in situations.' Additional new measures included in the County Health Rankings and Roadmap report this year are: Access to libraries Disability: Functional limitations Feelings of loneliness Lack of social and emotional support Access to parks Adverse climate events Beckman said the County Health Rankings report is especially helpful at a community level because even when the state may seem to overall be doing well with specific measures, individual counties may be having a different experience. He noted that most Kansas counties are doing better than the average county in the United States, but that doesn't mean there aren't individual counties showing challenges. As an example, he pointed to Russell, Edwards and Kingman counties, which have seen 'years for potential life lost' increasing at a level higher than what is seen in the state and U.S. overall. That factor is a unique angle on what most of us think as life expectancy, Beckman said. 'What years of potential life lost does is it adds up and turns into a rate all of the years between a person dies and the age 75,' he said. 'So it sets age 75 as that average life expectancy, and any deaths before that are added up. What that means in practice is if there are, for whatever reason, things that are causing earlier deaths in a community, that's really going to increase years of potential life lost.' Beckman called the increase in years of potential life lost 'pretty stark,' and said the increase can't be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the County Health Rankings report doesn't answer why that's happening, it provides the information so that county and state officials can dig deeper. Broadening of data collected in the County Health Rankings and Roadmap report comes even as its publisher, the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute, expects to lose funding in 2026. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is pulling funding it has supplied for the past 15 years. 'RWJF remains committed to public health data and to meeting the needs of the communities we strive to serve,' a foundation spokesperson said. 'We remain steadfast in our support of the UWPHI team in this final chapter to ensure a thoughtful and collaborative wind-down of the program through the end of 2026.' Rogerson at UWPHI said the organization's work is rooted in their long-term tracking of health data and information. 'We know that that work to realize that vision is not done,' she said. 'We are still navigating and determining our next steps, but we hope to continue the work as much as possible for as long as possible. We know that communities, policy makers, students, lawmakers, rely on data- informed strategies and narrative change strategies, to advance work related to health and equity.'
Axios
07-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Dallas County outpaces U.S. in key health measures
Dallas County is one of the healthiest counties in the state and ranks better than the average county in the U.S., according to an annual County Health Rankings report. Why it matters: Health factors aren't just what's happening inside the doctor's office — social, economic and physical environment are also determinants, and in many of these, Dallas County is performing better than the rest of the country. Driving the news: The 2025 report, published annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, looks at 30 different measures including birth weights, insurance rates, vaccination rates, mental health and levels of obesity. State of play: Compared with the rest of the state, Dallas County residents are above average for high school completion and college education attainment. They also have lower child poverty rates and fewer preventable hospital stays and severe housing problems. Between the lines: Dallas County residents' physical health also fares better than the rest of the state's and country's averages, according to the report. Much of the population is younger and less likely to face chronic illnesses, Abigail Coder, Dallas County's community health administrator, tells Axios. The county is the fastest-growing in the state, with a median age of 36, compared with 39 years old statewide, according to census data. Median household income is also higher — around $102,200, compared with $71,700 statewide, according to the report. Two-thirds of the county's population live within West Des Moines, Waukee, Urbandale and Clive, where wealthier and younger populations are more likely to live. Yes, but: Rural Dallas County residents are dealing with health challenges that are often overlooked. Zoom in: 14% of Dallas County residents who identify as non-white or Hispanic don't have health insurance, compared with less than 10% of the county's white, non-Hispanic population, according to the county's 2023-25 health improvement plan. Rural residents were more likely to report fair or poor mental health status. Perry adults were also more likely to sleep less than seven hours a day. 69% of Dallas County adults were overweight or obese, and rural residents are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The intrigue: The county health department is trying to address the inequalities by providing transportation services for rural residents to health care appointments and getting more specialists in Perry. Zoom out: Neighboring Polk County is also performing better than average compared with other U.S. counties. The bottom line: "We love that folks are doing really well here," Abigail Coder, Dallas County's community health administrator, tells Axios.
