Delaware Health Digest
A data-driven snapshot of Delaware's key health metrics by category — with 3-year forecasts, AI-generated analysis, and a downloadable PDF report.
AI-Generated Executive Summary
Click "Generate Summary" for an AI-written executive overview of Delaware's health trends — drawing from dashboard metrics, recent news, and live web search for the latest developments.
State of Delaware Healthcare Report
A comprehensive AI-generated report drawing from dashboard metrics, recent news, and live web search — updated on demand.
AI-Generated Comprehensive Report
Click "Generate Report" to produce a comprehensive AI-analyzed report on the state of healthcare in Delaware — drawing from dashboard metrics, recent news headlines, and live web search for the latest developments.
CY 2024 Benchmark Trend Report
NewDelaware's annual health care cost & quality report — May 7, 2026. Published by DHSS / Delaware Health Care Commission.
$11.3B
Total Medical Expenses (2024)
Up 8.4% from 2023 — far exceeding Delaware's 3.0% cost growth benchmark for the 4th consecutive year.
6.4%
Per Capita Cost Growth
Delaware's per capita health spending grew at more than double the national benchmark target of 3.0%.
36.6%
Adult Obesity Rate
Significantly above the 30.5% benchmark — adult obesity continues to be Delaware's most persistent quality gap.
↓38%
Opioid Overdose Deaths
Opioid-related overdose deaths dropped from 47.5 to 29.4 per 100,000 — the standout positive trend in CY 2024.
Quality Benchmark Results
- Breast Cancer Screening (Commercial) met benchmark at 79.4% vs. 79.3% target.
- Colorectal Cancer Screening (Medicaid) exceeded benchmark: 37.6% vs. 34.4% target.
- Cervical Cancer Screening fell short at 72.6% vs. 82.1% benchmark.
- ED Utilization (Commercial) above target: 161.9 per 1,000 vs. 156.1 benchmark.
- Long-Term Care costs surged 12.2% year-over-year — highest growth category.
- Hospital Inpatient spending reached $2.2B (19.7% of total medical expenses).
Healthcare Workforce Snapshot
Key indicators from the 2022 Delaware Healthcare Workforce Census and Delaware Health Force (DHF) reports.
37
HPSA Designations Statewide
Across primary care, dental, and mental health — federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Kent & Sussex
Most Underserved Counties
Rural Kent and Sussex counties face the most severe provider maldistribution vs. New Castle County.
18%
Avg. Nurse Vacancy Rate
Delaware hospitals report an average 18% nursing vacancy rate, driven by burnout and retirement exits.
2022
First Statewide Workforce Census
Delaware's first comprehensive healthcare workforce count — covering provider demographics, specialties, and supply/demand projections.
Key Findings from DHF Reports
- Delaware has 37 HRSA-designated HPSAs spanning primary care, dental, and mental health shortage areas.
- Provider-to-patient ratios in Kent and Sussex counties are significantly worse than New Castle, creating rural care deserts for low-income and Medicaid populations.
- Burnout-driven workforce exits are accelerating shortages — particularly in behavioral health and nursing.
- The 2022 DHF Census found maldistribution, not just overall scarcity, as the root cause of Delaware's shortage problem.
- Graduate medical education expansion and interest-free loan programs are Delaware's primary policy levers to address shortages.
Health Metrics by Category
Explore chart previews and 3-year forecasts organized by health category. Click a category to expand its metrics. Dashed line = projected (Holt's exponential smoothing through 2029).
Opioid ED Visits — Statewide
3,050visits
3-yr forecast: 3405.8 visits by 2028
Opioid ED Visits — New Castle
1,700visits
3-yr forecast: 1893.3 visits by 2028
Opioid ED Visits — Kent
700visits
3-yr forecast: 786.5 visits by 2028
Opioid ED Visits — Sussex
650visits
3-yr forecast: 726.1 visits by 2028
Download the full PDF Report
Includes AI insights, datasets, glossary, and all forecasts — generated from live data.
Forecasts use Holt's double exponential smoothing. Content compiled from publicly available sources. Verify with original sources before use.