According to a report from Radio Iowa, a new poll ranks Iowa number one nationally for residents’ experiences with the health care system. The survey, conducted by Gallup and the nonprofit West Health, asked nearly 20,000 Americans for their opinions on health care costs, quality and access in their state.
Iowa received the highest ranking but only earned a C-plus overall, while the national average was a C. West Health CEO Tim Lash says the low grades reflect growing frustration with the health care system. He says some of Iowa’s investments in rural health and Medicaid expansion helped, but the state still barely received a passing grade.
The poll found one in four Iowans reported that distance to medical professionals delayed or prevented them from receiving care in the past 12 months, while more than half said long wait times for appointments affected their care.
