Congressional Quarterly: Louisiana Ranked 49th
Advocate (excerpt)

Another one of those “lists” that make Louisianians wince was recently released. In this one, “Health Care State Rankings 2008: Health Care Across America,” Louisiana ranked 49th, meaning it was next to the bottom in state rankings on health. Last year it was 50th, or the least-healthy state in the nation.

Ranking 50th this year as the least healthy state was Mississippi. The healthiest state was Minnesota, followed by New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts.

Needless to stay, state Department of Health and Hospital officials weren’t happy with the news. “The numbers are sad, horrifying and tragic. This is not a list we want to be on the bottom of,” said Alan Levine, DHH secretary, in the March 27 edition of The Advocate of Baton Rouge ....