Virginia is among the three states with the greatest improvements in America’s Health Rankings in a report released Thursday by the United Healthcare Foundation. There are still many challenges and disparities.
Virginia rose from number 20 to number 15 among states with improvements in things like reducing infant mortality and smoking as well as increasing childhood immunizations.
But Dr. Rhonda Randall — the Chief Medical Officer at United Healthcare — says drug overdose deaths are skyrocketing.
"In 2019, Virginia ranked number 18 in drug deaths."
The report also found 21 percent more Virginians face mental health distress — coupled with a shortage of mental health providers and challenges in public health funding.
Overall, Dr. Randall says , "Virginia has moved up five spots in the rankings from the prior year. Those are great improvements for the State of Virginia.
This is the 30th year the report has been published.
