The Commonwealth Fund has put out a report that  it says shows that states with fewer insured children tend to have worse health care for those kids. Like many such studies, though, it doesn't extend to the truly bottom line: Are kids sicker here than elsewhere? Do they have higher mortality or worse health than kids elsewhere?

 As usual, New Mexico's ranking is not impressive, coming in 40th overall on quality and access measures. Yet, when you look at two actual health measures -- infant mortality and the percent of children at risk for developmental delay, New Mexico ranks in the top 15.

We fall near the bottom of the pack, though, when you look at measures of access to health care, such as referrals to specialists and annual check-ups. And we're up at 12th when it comes to the cost of health care.

What does it mean? Hard to say. Some folks equate getting medical care with being healthier, but others dispute that the connection is that direct. After all, the people getting the most medical care generally are the ones who are the sickest -- those fighting cancers or chronic illnesses, for example.

Still, those preventive visits can mean catching a problem early, or even preventing one from developing.

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