Published November 16, 2010

WBUR’s Deborah Becker and Lisa Tobin round up the highlights of a biannual report, publicized today, that show health care access remains tight in Massachusetts, with hospital emergency rooms increasingly picking up slack — even as the number of insured residents gets closer to the 100-percent mark.

CommonHealth blogger Rachel Zimmerman has a good summary:

A snapshot of the current health status of Massachusetts shows a more violent, fatter state, but also one filled with more insured residents and fewer adult smokers than in years past. The data, gathered by the Massachusetts Health Council, as part of its 2010 health indicator report, also unearthed some health statistics you probably don’t know.

Rachel highlighted 10 of the most surprising facts from the report, including: Binge drinking is up among higher-income groups; more than a quarter of adults with asthma have depression; and 17 percent of Mass. middle schoolers are overweight.

Stick with CommonHealth for razor-sharp health care coverage.

Update: The full report is up on Scribd.