But many of the areas that challenge Utah's score are likely to change in the near future, he added. During the last legislative session, the department received more money to take care of kids who are chronically ill. Gov. Jon M. Huntsman led a push for more Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding, and there will be a new open-enrollment period July 1 for children in families below 200 percent of poverty. That coverage is important because studies show that those with insurance coverage get earlier and more appropriate care. Lawmakers also put in money for early intervention for children with developmental disabilities. All those things will help.

"What really troubles me is the immunization rate. I don't know why we're so recalcitrant in Utah, although we're moving in the right direction slowly."

Although some people vehemently oppose immunizations, that doesn't appear to be the driving force, he said. Only 2 percent of parents get waivers. The rest just don't seem to get it done. He said recent studies hint that with Utah's large families, parents may simply be losing track of who needs which vaccination when.

The report indicates Utah's nursing homes are doing a better job of pain management and pressure ulcer care and prevention and getting people up out of bed. And the state ranks well in terms of home health-care quality measures.

Utah's full report is online at www.health.utah.gov. The AHRQ report is at statesnapshots.ahrq.gov.

---

E-mail: lois@desnews.com