Ohio’s health value ranking remains near the bottom nationally, with the state placing 43rd among the 50 states in a measure that compares population health with healthcare spending.
The ranking comes from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, a nonpartisan organization that tracks health policy data across the state. According to the institute’s health value dashboard, Ohioans are spending more on healthcare while seeing weaker overall health outcomes than residents in many other states.
Why Ohio’s Health Value Ranking Is Low
Hailey Akah of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio said the ranking shows that Ohioans are living less healthy lives while paying more for healthcare. The dashboard points to a broader problem: medical costs are only one part of the state’s health challenge.
In 2023, more than one in four Ohioans had trouble paying expenses. That financial pressure can affect whether residents can afford care, buy food, manage housing costs or stay connected to support systems that influence long-term health.
The institute also found that Ohio performs poorly compared with other states on labor force participation, food insecurity, older adult isolation and incarceration. These factors suggest that Ohio’s health outcomes are shaped by economic conditions, community stability and access to basic support, not just hospital or doctor visits.
Access to Care and Child Well-Being Show Progress
Ohio’s results are stronger in some areas. The state ranks 14th in overall access to care, showing that availability of medical services is not the only issue behind its low health value score.
The institute also reported improvement in child well-being measures, including adverse childhood experiences, high school graduation rates and disconnected youth ages 16 to 24 who are neither working nor in school. Akah said those indicators have improved over the past seven to ten years, suggesting progress in areas tied to youth stability and future health.
Medicaid, Workforce and Behavioral Health Are Key Priorities
Akah said Ohio could improve its health value through continued investment in workforce initiatives and behavioral health, along with maintaining Medicaid coverage for eligible residents.
The findings suggest that improving Ohio’s health outcomes will require more than lowering healthcare costs. Stronger support for financial stability, food access, behavioral health and community well-being may be central to moving the state higher in future health value rankings.
