These are 11 states that have highest rates of surgical procedures in America, the country which spends the most on health in the world. In 2013, US invested $2.5 trillion, or in other words, $7,826 per capita in health care system, and the largest share of the money, 38 percent, went for hospital care. Still, despite the huge allocation of the financial resources for health, a considerable number of Americans can’t afford the medical care they need, mainly because they don’t have medical insurance. According to Commonwealth Fund, 29 million working-age adults in America, or 16 percent of the population, were uninsured in 2014. These numbers represent a decrease by four percent from 2010, when 37 million people didn’t have insurance. The positive trend is mainly due to Obamacare, which has also led to the decline in a number of people who didn’t get the medical care because of costs, as well as a number of people who reported having problems paying the medical bills. However, the middle class is still struggling with high medical bills, and a large number of insured people can’t afford medical care – Commonwealth Fund estimates that 28 percent of Americans with medical insurance didn’t get the care they need because of high costs in 2014.
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The fact that almost third of population can’t access needed care becomes understandable when we look at costs of three most expensive surgeries in US – heart valve procedure ($52,625), a coronary artery bypass graft ($40,142) and cardiac pacemaker/ defibrillator insertion/ replacement ($35,028). Thus, it isn’t a surprise that many Americans travel abroad to receive the health care they need. CDC estimates that every year 750,000 US residents visit countries where they can get medical services at much lower costs, and the most wanted procedures among medical tourists are the heart and plastic surgeries. Although many Americans travel abroad to get the desired look, the number of plastic surgeries performed in the US yearly is high, as you can see on our list 10 Most Common Plastic Surgery Procedures in America.
Every year around 50 million surgeries are performed in the US, and the most popular ones are arteriography and angiocardiography, cardiac catheterizations and Cesarean section. We made the list 11 states that have highest rates of surgical procedures in America using the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Along with surgery rate, we present you a state’s health profile which we made using data from America’s Health Ranking, which shows states’ rankings by the prevalence of various illnesses and healthcare measures, and HealthGrove, the site which also ranks states by diseases rates.
11. Florida
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 86
Florida ranks as 32nd on America Health Ranking with a low prevalence of smoking, obesity, and air pollution compared to the rest of America. However, the state faces a couple of health challenges which contributes to its relatively low score including: poor mental and physical health days (the number of days when residents reported that their mental and physical health wasn’t good), high incidence of salmonella, and great number of uninsured people (20% of population is uninsured). At the same time, the HealthGrove claims that Florida is the unhealthiest state in America because Floridians, compared to other America’s citizens, have greater risk of suffering from number of diseases including hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), hypertension, arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
10. South Dakota
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 87
South Dakota is the 18th state on America Health Ranking. Its health strengths include a low rate of drug deaths, low percentage of children living in poverty, and low prevalence of low birthweight. Moreover, South Dakota is the state with the smallest percent of the population reported having poor mental and physical health days. At the same time, HealthGrove ranks South Dakota as the healthiest state in the Midwest. The highest risk condition in South Dakota is autism spectrum disorder, which is the most prevalent among Caucasians. South Dakotans’ relatively good overall health is partly overshadowed by the fact that senior South Dakota’s residents generally have problems getting the care they need since there is a deficit of geriatricians, hospice care isn’t available, and there is a high rate of poverty.
9. North Dakota
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees: 87.3
North Dakota is the healthiest state on our list. America Health Ranking puts North Dakota in 9th place, praising its low rate of drug deaths, high immunization coverage among teens, and low prevalence of low birthweight. Like South Dakota, North Dakota also has a small number of people who complain about poor mental and physical health days. However, this is the state with the greatest percent of binge drinkers in America (23.8 percent of population drink excessively) which might explain HealthGrove data that residents of North Dakota are at greater risk of suffering from mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia compared to America’s average. Finally, North Dakota increased public health funding by 40 percents in past 2 years, and now it spends $109 on health care per person.
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8. Nebraska
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees: 87.3
Nebraska ranks as the 10th state on America Health Ranking, with a low rate of drug deaths, high rate of high school graduation, and high immunization coverage among children. One of the problems it faces is a high disparity in health status between residents with and without high school diploma. Moreover, although the state has a relatively low rate of diabetes, the prevalence of the illness increased by 10 percent in past two years. At the same time, HealthGrove claims that only two conditions, atrial fibrillation, and schizophrenia, have higher prevalence rate in Nebraska than America’s average.
7. Ohio
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 87.7
Ohio occupies 40th place on America Health Ranking. Its low score is mainly due to low immunization coverage among children (in last two years immunization decreased by 17 percents), high rate of preventable hospitalizations and high infant mortality rate. Although the number of deaths among infants is high, it actually has declined by 22 percent since 1990. Another data which raises concern is 25 percent increase in drug-related deaths. Moreover, according to HealthGrove, Ohio is the second unhealthiest state, with a high prevalence of depression, COPD, arthritis, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
6. Missouri
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 88
Missouri is the sixth state on our list 11 States that have Highest Rates of Surgical Procedures. The state ranks relatively low on America Health Ranking, occupying 36th place with a high rate of smoking and physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity and cigarettes might be the reason why the state has one of the greatest rates of cancer, cardiovascular and premature deaths. At the same time, HealthGrove claims that depression, arthritis, and COPD are the most common illnesses in Missouri.
5. Oklahoma
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 88.8
Oklahoma is another state which ranks low on America Health Ranking, occupying 46th place mainly because of a high prevalence of physical inactivity, low immunization coverage among children, and limited availability of primary care physicians. Lack of physical activity among residents of Oklahoma might be a reason why the prevalence of heart diseases is higher in the state than America’s average. It also might be contributing factor to the high rate of cardiovascular deaths. The state has a third lowest number of primary care physician per 100,000 – 84.8.
4. Alabama
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 88.9
Alabama has a poor score on America Health Ranking (43th place), mainly because of the high prevalence of diabetes, high infant mortality rate and limited availability of dentists. This is the state where the greatest percent of people suffer from diabetes, and in last two years the number of people having the condition increased by 17 percent. Other conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chlamydia are also prominent in Alabama. On the brighter side, the state can be proud of low disparity in health status and good public health funding.
3. Kentucky
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 89
Kentucky is one of the unhealthiest states on our list. America Health Ranking places it on 47th place emphasizing Kentucky’s high prevalence of smoking, a high percentage of children living in poverty, and high rate of preventable hospitalization. This is also the state with the greatest number of cancer deaths. Moreover, according to HealthGrove Kentuckians have a greater risk of suffering from a number of conditions than average American, including COPD, hypertension, arthritis, depression, and ischemic heart disease.
2. Michigan
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 91.4
Michigan is the 34th state on America Health Ranking. Main health challenges which Michigan faces are high rates of excessive drinking, obesity, and smoking, so it isn’t a surprise that the rate of cardiovascular deaths is high. At the same time, HealthGrove claims that Michigan is the unhealthiest state because there is a number of diseases which are more common in Michigan than in the rest of America. The good news for Michigan’s residents is that pollution declined by 27 percents in last five years.
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1. Arkansas
All Surgical Discharges per 1,000 Medicare Enrollees 92.1
Arkansas is the first on our list 11 states that have highest rates of surgical procedures in America. According to America Health Ranking the state is the second unhealthiest in America, with number of health challenges including high rates of cancer and cardiovascular deaths, low immunization among children and adolescents, high prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes…. It seems that one of the rare good things about Arkansas’s health profile is a low rate of alcohol and drug addicts.
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