GA falls even lower in latest US health ratings. Here’s where it ranks & why
Georgia just received one of its lowest health ranking in years, and the state is facing some very concerning issues.
Georgia landed at number 38 nationally in the 2024 America’s Health Rankings Annual Report, published by the United Health Foundation. The state has a few genuine bright spots, but worsening trends in physical health, drug use, and access to care pushed the overall ranking down.
Factors affecting the scores
The report scores all 50 states across five categories.
The factors:
- Social components
- Economic variables
- Physical environment
- Behaviors
- Clinical care
- Health outcomes
Georgia’s health challenges
Georgia ranked 46th in overall clinical care, which covers access to care, preventive services, and quality of care.
But these are the key areas flagged as “challenges” in the report and Georgia’s rankings in the individual areas.
The patients’ issues:
- Avoided care due to cost: (47th) 16.4% of adults said they needed to see a doctor in the past year but couldn’t because of cost
- Non-medical drug use: (41st) 19.5% of adults reported using prescription drugs non-medically or using illicit drugs (excluding cannabis) in the past year
- Chlamydia incidence: (46th) 646.4 new cases per 100,000 people
Georgia’s health strengths
The report identified several measures where the state performs well.
The patients’ issues:
- Excessive drinking: 5th - 14.3% of adults reported binge or heavy drinking
- High-speed internet: 19th - 94.6% of households have broadband internet with a device
- E-cigarette use: 18th - 7.6% of adults currently use e-cigarettes. Georgia’s ranking is below the national trend.
Georgia’s overall physical distress increased 42% between 2020 and 2024 due to a few other factors as well, including being uninsured, low birth weights and high-risk HIV behaviors.
More than 1 in 6 Georgia adults skipped a doctor visit last year because they couldn’t afford it, which is a structural problem that drives every other metric down.