Hawaii healthiest
state in nation

The award compares states' health care
provisions in 512 categories

By Star-Bulletin staff

Healthy you live Hawaii.

An independent research and publishing company based in Lawrence, Kan., yesterday named Hawaii the healthiest state.

"We use this award to reflect the affordability of health care in a state, access to health care providers and a generally healthy population," said Scott Morgan, president of Morgan Quinto Press.

The award is based on 23 health-related factors taken from the Health Care State Rankings 1997, a 552-page annual reference book that compares the 50 states in 512 health categories.

Low infant mortality rate, percentage of the population without health insurance, per capita expenditure for health care, childhood immunization rate, percentage of adults who smoke, and community hospitals per 1,000 square miles are among the factors considered for the award.

Iowa, No. 1 last year, was ranked eighth.

Arkansas, meanwhile, was last on the list for the fourth time in five years.

The bottom list also includes West Virginia (49), Louisiana (48), Alabama (47) and Tennessee (46).

New York made the most significant jump, from No. 32 to 18.