We here in Minnesota are probably not taking too kindly to the latest health index power rankings via the 2008 America’s Health rankings survey, a collaborative between the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. Prior to last year, our state ranked #1 for four consecutive years.

With an increase in child poverty and a decrease in public health spending, the state slipped to No. 4 this year from No. 2 last year, according to annual rankings released Wednesday by the United Health Foundation. [...]

But the data used in the report may have put Minnesota at an unfair disadvantage [...] [T]his year the Legislature approved $47 million for public health programs to reduce smoking and obesity, money that was not included in the latest analysis, but which could improve Minnesota’s ranking next year.

Interestingly, the bottom 5 states in the survey are conservative Red states. The top 4 — deep liberal Blue. | Full report PDF can be downloaded here.

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