A state's preparedness to manage the COVID-19 shock to its health system might be assessed by looking at its foundational health care resources.
One measure of a state's preparedness to manage the COVID-19 shock to its health system is the level of funding for public health emergency preparedness. An analysis prepared by WalletHub found that the District of Columbia ranks #1 on that measure and New York ranks #51. Share of population with health coverage, public health spending per capita, public hospital system quality, and several other measures of foundational health care resources were ranked from best to worst in the analysis. In the slides below find the 5 states ranking highest and 5 ranking lowest on 7 indicators of preparedness.
State Health Systems Best and Least Prepared to Manage COVID-19
Highest Total Public Health Emergency Preparedness Funding per Capita: District of Columbia (DC)
Lowest Public Health Emergency Preparedness Funding per Capita: New York
Highest Public Hospital System Quality: South Dakota
Lowest Public Hospital System Quality: District of Columbia (DC)
Lowest Influenza & Pneumonia Death Rate per Capita: Florida
Highest Influenza & Pneumonia Death Rate per Capita: Mississippi
Highest Public Healthcare Spending per Capita: Tie among DC, Alaska, New Mexico
Lowest Public Healthcare Spending per Capita: Nevada
Lowest Share of at-Risk Population - Chronically Ill: Minnesota
Highest Share of at-Risk Population - Chronically Ill: West Virginia
Lowest Share of Population w/o Health Insurance Coverage: Massachusetts
Highest Share of Population w/o Health Insurance Coverage: Texas
Lowest Share of Workforce in Pandemic-affected Industries: Iowa
Accommodations/food services; arts, entertainment, recreation; bus service/urban transit; air transportation; taxi service
Highest Share of Workforce in Pandemic-affected Industries: Nevada
Accommodations/food services; arts, entertainment, recreation; bus service/urban transit; air transportation; taxi service
