A new nationwide ranking puts Vermont, Montana, and New Hampshire at the top of the list for the availability of palliative care. These were the only states to earn an A. In general, southern states rated poorly, with Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma each earning an F. The grading system reflects the percentage of hospitals with palliative care programs designed to meet the needs of seriously ill patients.

Overall, 53% of hospitals with more than 50 beds had palliative care programs. Only 29% of hospitals that are the sole community providers of medical care had palliative care programs.

Source: Goldsmith B, Dietrich J, Qingling D, Morrison RS. Variability in access to hospital palliative care in the United States. J Palliat Med. 2008;11(8):1-9.