Texas Dead Last for Health Care Quality in Federal Report

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rates Texas at the bottom of the states in health care quality. Texas scored “weak” or “very weak” ratings in 75 percent of the more than 150 measures used to determine quality care. These measures include preventive care, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and heart disease measures.

The state’s obesity and diabetes epidemic is crushing Texas’ fiscal and physical health, says Michael Speer, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association. TMA says this report stresses the need to invest in prevention to improve the quality of health care for all Texans. Unfortunately, “over the last several legislative sessions, given the budgetary constraints that the Texas Legislature has had to deal with, they’ve cut preventive care and they’ve cut public health initiatives,” Dr. Speer told KUT news.

Among the findings, Texas scored lowest in:

• Percentage of home health care patients with improved breathing, urinary continence, and pain management when mobile; and
• Breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy for women under 70 years of age.

Texas scored highest in maternal and child health, including:

• Percentage of children ages 19-35 months who received three or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine; and
• Percentage of children ages 19-35 months who received all recommended vaccines.