(AHRQ: Rockville, MD) -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) annual release of state-by-state quality data continues to give mixed reviews for the quality of care that states provide. As in previous years, AHRQ's 2008 State Snapshots show that no state does well or poorly on all quality measures.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also releasing state-by-state reports on the health care status quo. The reports are available at http://www.HealthCare.gov.

The 2008 State Snapshots provide state-specific health care quality information, including strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. The state-level information used to create the state snapshots is drawn from the National Healthcare Quality Report 2008, which was released in March 2009 by HHS and the AHRQ and contributes to a national portrait of health care quality.

"The State Snapshots are an invaluable resource for state officials, health care providers and purchasers to help them better understand the extent of health care quality and disparities in their States," says AHRQ director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. "With this information, they can take the necessary steps to improve health care quality and address persistent gaps in access to health care."

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