The health care system is working better for women in New York than in most other states, even as it lags on several key affordability and quality metrics, according to a new state-by-state analysis of women’s health by the Commonwealth Fund. New York ranked 10th overall in the U.S. on the nonprofit’s new scorecard on women’s health and reproductive care released last week. The scorecard is based on 32 measures of health care access, quality and outcomes. The state ranked among the nation’s top five for health and reproductive care outcomes, such as maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Rates of breast and cervical cancer deaths — both of which are preventable yet top causes of mortality for U.S. women — stand at 17.3 per 100,000 women in New York, compared to 20.9 nationwide, according to the analysis. But New York also stood out for its high rate of cesarean births for low-risk pregnancies, at 29.5 per 100 women in 2022, while the nationwide average was 26.3. Higher rates of low-risk cesarean births are associated with increased maternal mortality and morbidity, in addition to negative impacts on infant health. And women in New York continue to face barriers in accessing health care. Twenty-one percent of New York women between the ages of 18 and 44 reported not having a personal health care provider in 2022, according to the scorecard. Fourteen percent said there was recently a time when they needed to see a doctor but couldn’t because of the cost. Such barriers were most evident when it comes to preventative care. New York was among the analysis’ worst performers for rates of women with up-to-date colon cancer screenings and women over the age of 65 who had ever received a pneumonia vaccine. “Looking across states and comparing their health care systems is an important way of telling us what is and isn’t working in American health care,” Sara R. Collins, the analysis’ lead author and senior scholar and vice president for health care coverage and access for the Commonwealth Fund, said in a statement. “The scorecard’s findings are deeply concerning and underscore the urgent need for federal and state policies to expand women’s access to affordable, timely reproductive care and other essential health services, regardless of who they are, what they earn, or where they live.” IN OTHER NEWS: — Northwell Health has inked a partnership with Instacart to address social determinants of health by expanding access to nutritious food, the health system announced last week. The partnership’s first program will involve integrating Instacart Health tools into Northwell’s Maternal Outcomes and Morbidity Collaborative to provide future parents with category-specific online grocery stipends and nutrition guidance. ON THE AGENDA: — Wednesday, 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The state Public Health and Health Planning Council will convene the Ad Hoc Committee to Lead the State Health Improvement Plan. — Thursday at 3 p.m. NYC Health + Hospitals’ board of directors hosts its monthly public meeting. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@politico.com. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
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