Children’s healthcare: stronger federal standards needed

A Commonwealth Fund report examines how states perform on 13 different indicators in five categories: access to care, quality of care, cost, potential to lead healthy and productive lives, and equity in the quality of care provided regardless of race, income, or insurance status. It ranked states within each category and then assigned states a final overall ranking. Some say the findings show a need for a larger federal role in setting minimum standards to encourage better coverage and care for children.