Hawaii, Massachusetts hold top state health care scores

A new scorecard of U.S. states on health care performance gives Hawaii and Massachusetts top marks, while Mississippi and Oklahoma fall at the bottom. Here’s more on the study:

• The design: Analysts looked at access, health outcomes, cost of care, and other health care measures to arrive at the scores for all 50 states and D.C.
• Overall trends: California had the highest jump in rankings — moving up 12 spots to number 14 — while Rhode Island had the most number of improved categories. Delaware and Wyoming moved down in ranking.
• Future goals: The report also finds that if states did as well as the best state in the category, there would be 18 million more insured adults and children, and nearly a million more children receiving recommended vaccinations.