（Boston Orange編譯）美國聯合健康基金會（United Health Foundation）10月6日發表《2026年婦女與兒童健康報告》。麻州在婦幼健康與福祉上，連續10年名列前茅，今年全美第一。州長奚莉（Maura Healey）感謝第一線人員的努力，強調將持續改善醫療落差、減輕民眾看診負擔。
這報告針對全美各州的健康狀況、醫療資源、社會經濟與環境等四大面向做綜合評估，前五名依序為麻州、佛蒙特州、新罕布夏州、明尼蘇達州與康乃狄克州。麻州之所以脫穎而出，主要因為嬰兒死亡率與女性肥胖率極低，且兒童糧食安全與飲食營養無虞。此外，麻州擁有全美最高的兒科醫師密度，每10萬名兒童有224.2位兒科醫師，青少年自殺率也是全美最低，每10萬人僅4.6例。
儘管整體成績亮眼，報告也指出麻州的幾項隱憂，包含青少年使用非法藥物比例偏高、子宮頸癌篩檢率不足，以及六個月純母乳哺育率仍有進步空間。同時，全美普遍面臨的產婦健康惡化與種族醫療落差，也是麻州必須持續面對的挑戰。
為補足短板並打造更完善的照護網，麻州政府近年積極推動多項政策。在婦幼照護方面，州府通過產婦健康新法，擴大「歡迎家庭（Welcome Family）」免費產後居家訪視與「麻州孕產婦精神科諮詢服務（MCPAP for Moms）」計畫，強化孕產婦的心理健康篩檢與支援。在兒少心理健康方面，麻州加碼1億美元預算協助學校留任心理諮商人員，成立31家社區行為健康中心，並推動立法保護兒少的網路心理健康。為了減輕民眾就醫負擔，政府更設定了醫療自付額上限，並免除常規看診的預先審查制度，全面提升醫療服務的便利性與負擔能力。
Massachusetts Ranked #1 State in the Nation for Women’s and Children’s Health
Massachusetts ranks among nation’s top states for health of women and children for 10th consecutive year
BOSTON – Massachusetts has been ranked the number one state in the nation for the health of women and children, according to the America’s Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report, released today by the United Health Foundation. This year marks the 10th consecutive year Massachusetts has ranked among the top states in the country for the health and well-being of women and children.
“We’re proud that Massachusetts is ranked number one in the country for the health of women and children. It reflects the incredible work happening every day to support families and make sure they have access to high-quality health care,” said Governor Maura Healey. “But we also know there is more work to do, particularly to close disparities and make sure everyone can get the care and support they need. That’s why I’m working every day to increase access to primary, mental health and maternal health care, while also finding ways to lower costs for patients.”
“Our administration has made the health and well-being of children and families a priority because we know that healthy families are the foundation of strong communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It’s a credit to the doctors, nurses, clinicians, public health workers, teachers and community organizations who show up for families every day. We’re going to keep working alongside them to build on this progress and make sure families in every community have the support they need.”
The report examines a broad range of measures affecting the health of women and children, including health outcomes, access to clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment. The 2026 report includes data through 2024 and ranks Massachusetts alongside Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Connecticut in the top five states.
Massachusetts ranked particularly well for its low infant mortality rate, low prevalence of obesity among women and high prevalence of food sufficiency among children. The state also has the lowest teen suicide rate in the country, at 4.6 deaths per 100,000 adolescents ages 15-19, and the highest concentration of pediatricians, with 224.2 pediatricians per 100,000 individuals ages 0-21.
The report also identifies areas where Massachusetts has more work to do, including illicit drug use among teens, cervical cancer screening and the prevalence of infants exclusively breastfed for six months.
Nationally, the report shows progress over the past decade in several important areas, including declines in infant mortality, cigarette smoking during pregnancy and teen births, as well as improvements in preventive care.
At the same time, the report identifies worsening maternal health outcomes, growing mental health challenges, increased chronic conditions among women and persistent disparities across the nation. The report notes that racial disparities in maternal and infant health persist, and it emphasizes the need for sustained public health and clinical efforts to improve outcomes over time.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand that a person’s health is shaped long before they walk into a doctor’s office — by whether they can put healthy food on the table, feel safe in their community and get appropriate support when challenges arise,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “Being ranked number one in the nation is a testament to the people across Massachusetts who work every day to give women and children the opportunity to be healthy and thrive. It also challenges us to keep pushing forward. We need to build on what is working, confront the disparities that persist and make sure every family, in every community, can benefit from the progress we’ve made.”
“Massachusetts has long understood that investing in the health of women, infants, and children is one of the most important ways we can support and strengthen the health of our Commonwealth,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “We are proud of the progress reflected in this ranking, but a number cannot provide a full picture. Too many families still experience unacceptable disparities in health outcomes based on race, ethnicity, geography, income, and other factors. Our goal is to provide every woman, child, and family in Massachusetts the opportunity to be healthy and to thrive. That means listening to communities, investing in proven public health strategies, and focusing resources where they can have the greatest impact.”
Governor Healey has taken a number of steps to address these challenges, particularly around maternal health, mental health, primary care and affordability. In 2024, Governor Healey signed comprehensive maternal health legislation to expand access to care, improve maternal health outcomes and address racial and geographic disparities. She also recently announced additional actions to strengthen postpartum and maternal mental health care, including expanding the Welcome Family universal postpartum home visiting program and MCPAP for Moms, which helps providers identify and treat mental health and substance use concerns during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The Department of Public Health is also updating postpartum screening requirements to better identify perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and connect families with care.
Governor Healey has also increased funding for mental health services, including for counseling in schools. She expanded access to care through the state’s 31 Community Behavioral Health Centers and the Behavioral Health Help Line. She introduced legislation to hold social media platforms accountable for the harm they’ve caused on kids’ mental health and self-esteem and recently proposed an additional $100 million to help schools retain mental health counselors and services.
Governor Healey has also taken action to lower health care costs, including capping co-pays and deductibles and eliminating prior authorizations for routine care. In response to recommendations from her Health Care Affordability Working Group, she directed MassHealth to increase spending on primary care and is taking action to reduce out-of-network costs.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue building on this progress and investing in the care and supports that help all Massachusetts residents stay healthy, while working to close disparities and improve outcomes in every community.
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