News and briefs: Mississippi tops list of physician shortage woes

Mississippi’s 159.4 physicians per 100,000 people is the lowest ratio in the country, according to an article in the MarketWatch section of The Wall Street Journal. Arkansas has the second-lowest ratio at 169.1 per 100,000 people, followed by Utah with 169.5.

Massachusetts has the highest ratio with 314.8 per 100,000 people. Other states that made the top five, according to the article, are:

• Maryland: 281
• New York: 277.4
• Connecticut: 273
• Maine: 272.1

The 10 states with the highest concentration of physicians also have uninsured rates lower than the national rate of 15.5%; seven of the 10 states at the bottom have uninsured rates higher than the national rate.
 

High physician-to-patient ratios are linked to longer life expectancies and healthier lifestyles, according to the article. To read the top 10 lists of highest and lowest physician ratios, click here.