The results indicate that multiple factors are associated with state
variations in mortality amenable to health care. These, as has been
suggested,10 include socio-demographic variables, in particular, as
shown in the present analysis, the percentage of the population that is
black and the percentage that is below 200 per cent of poverty. In addition, multiple health care-related variables are associated with
amenable mortality. These indicators, selected to broadly represent
important dimensions of health system performance, potentially can be
improved with appropriate interventions. Despite the associations,
there is as yet no evidence that improving performance on these
indicators will improve amenable mortality, but this is worth testing.
In addition, improvement in variables such as readmission rates or
care for asthmatics and diabetics are objectives worth attaining in their
own right.