Wisconsin's infant mortality rate was 6.6 per 1,000 live births in 2000, slightly below the national rate of 6.9. In 1999, there were 11,013 legal abortions performed in the state, a ratio of 10 abortions for every 1,000 women. State law prohibits the use of public funds for abortions, except in cases of incest or rape or for grave health reasons. The state does provide funds for family-planning counseling.
The overall death rate in 2000 was 877.4 per 100,000 population. In the same year, Wisconsin ranked above the nation as a whole in death rates for cerebrovascular disease, accidents, and suicide but below the national averages for heart disease. Leading causes of death in 2000 were heart disease (256.8 deaths per 100,000 population), cancer (200.9), and cerebrovascular disease (67.9). Among Wisconsin adult 18 years of age and older, 23.4% were regular smokers in 1998. The HIV mortality rate of 1.4 per 100,000 population was below the national rate in 2000; a total 3,768 AIDS cases had been reported through 2001.
Wisconsin's 121 community hospitals had 579,089 admissions and 15,597 beds in 2001. There were 16,762 full-time registered nurses and 1,316 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 257 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000. The average expense of a community hospital for care was $1,329.70 per inpatient day in 2001.
Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $2.4 billion; 787,442 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. Only 7.7% of Wisconsin's residents were uninsured in 2002.
Medical degrees are granted by the University of Wisconsin at Madison and by the Medical College of Wisconsin (formerly part of Marquette University). The Division of Health, a branch of the State Department of Health and Social Services, has responsibility for planning and supervising health services and facilities, enforcing state and federal regulations, administering medical assistance programs, and providing information to the public. State laws provide for generic drug substitution and require continuing physician education.