Ohio ranks 25th on quality, cost of Medicare program, new report finds

Ohio fell right in the middle of a new analysis of state Medicare performance, ranking 25th compared to all states and D.C. (Source: “Quality, cost of Medicare coverage vary by state, report finds,” Ohio Capital Journal, Oct. 20).
 
The Commonwealth Fund on Thursday released a report grading how well Medicare works for people in each state and the District of Columbia. The federally funded health insurance program covers about 68 million Americans who are at least 65 years old, and an additional 7 million with disabilities.
 
“In some states, beneficiaries can see doctors quickly and afford their prescriptions,” Gretchen Johnson, vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, said in a statement. “In others, they face higher costs, delays or red tape.”

Vermont, Utah and Minnesota ranked at the top in the report’s rankings, while Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky landed at the bottom.
 
Researchers scored states based on 31 indicators, including demographic data like age and income, as well as factors including having a usual care provider, preventable hospital stays, and the share of beneficiaries with potentially dangerous medication prescriptions.