Alarming State Rankings Reveal Health Care Crisis in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has once again landed near the bottom in national health care rankings. According to a 2025 report released by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on health care research, Oklahoma Health Care System placed 49th out of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Only Texas and Mississippi ranked lower. The findings raise serious concerns about the state’s access to and quality of health care, despite some national improvements.
Dr. Joseph Betancourt, president of the Commonwealth Fund, emphasized the broader implications of the report. “These scorecards show incredible progress nationwide, but they also highlight the peril that lies ahead,” Betancourt stated. He stressed that both federal and state policies play crucial roles in shaping health outcomes and noted the importance of affordable, accessible care for all Americans.
The data, primarily reflecting health care conditions in 2023, reveal that while some areas in the U.S. have made strides in health care access, states like Oklahoma continue to struggle. According to David Radley, senior scientist at the Commonwealth Fund, the rankings provide a snapshot of recent performance and should be used to inform health policy decisions going forward.
Key Health Metrics Show Dire Conditions in Oklahoma
The report outlined a number of alarming statistics specific to Oklahoma Health Care System . The state ranked last in the nation for breast cancer death rates and was near the bottom for medical debt in collections. It also performed poorly in several other areas, including infant mortality (42nd), suicide rates (46th), and drug overdose deaths, with over 32 deaths per 100,000 people, placing it 25th in the nation.
Oklahoma was also among the worst states for premature deaths from treatable and preventable causes. In terms of health care access and affordability, it ranked 48th, only slightly ahead of Nevada, Mississippi, and Texas. Furthermore, the state came in 46th for both racial health equity and prevention and treatment services. The only relatively positive metric was primary care spending for seniors, where Oklahoma performed better than most states.
A separate 2024 report by the same organization ranked Oklahoma 48th for maternal mortality—another indicator of systemic challenges within the state’s health care system. These statistics paint a troubling picture for residents, many of whom face serious barriers to receiving timely and effective medical care.
Oklahoma Health Care System Policy Experts Call for Urgent Reform and Action
Although the nationwide rate of uninsured individuals has decreased, largely due to Medicaid expansions and improved consumer protections, experts warn that upcoming federal policy changes could reverse these gains. Proposed cuts to Medicaid, in particular, could significantly affect vulnerable populations in states like Oklahoma.
Dr. Betancourt urged lawmakers to act. “My hope is that these findings serve as a guide and a call to action,” he said. “We need to make sure that everyone in America can get the care they need—regardless of who they are, where they live, or their income level.”
As the state continues to grapple with poor rankings and health disparities, experts say urgent and targeted policy changes are essential to improving Oklahoma’s health care landscape and ensuring better outcomes for its residents.
