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Star J, Han X, Yabroff KR, Bandi P. Challenges to the Affordable Care Act: No-Cost Coverage of Cancer Screening. Am J Prev Med 2025; 68:828-834. [PMID: 39818364 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2025.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2024] [Revised: 01/10/2025] [Accepted: 01/12/2025] [Indexed: 01/18/2025]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Star
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Xuesong Han
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - K Robin Yabroff
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Priti Bandi
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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Van Den Puttelaar R, Shi KS, Smith R, Zhao J, Ogongo MK, Harlass M, Hahn AI, Zauber AG, Yabroff KR, Lansdorp-Vogelaar I. Implications of the initial Braidwood v. Becerra ruling for colorectal cancer outcomes: a modeling study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2025; 117:790-794. [PMID: 39361402 PMCID: PMC11972676 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2025] Open
Abstract
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) eliminated patient cost-sharing for United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) recommended services. However, if the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit fully upheld a US District Court ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra, 666 F. Supp. 3d 613 (N.D. Tex 2023), cost-sharing for USPSTF recommendations made after ACA passage would have been reinstated for more than 150 million people. The case would have reinstated cost-sharing for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for ages 45-49 years and for polyp removal during (diagnostic) colonoscopy across all ages. Using the MISCAN-Colon model, we simulated the potential impact on CRC outcomes, assuming early-onset CRC trends and lower screening participation. An 8-percentage-point decline in screening participation could increase CRC incidence by 5.1% and CRC mortality by 9.1%, with slightly lower costs due to increased cost-sharing. Larger decreases in screening participation can result in higher costs from increased incidence and delayed diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosita Van Den Puttelaar
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kewei Sylvia Shi
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Robert Smith
- Center for Early Cancer Detection Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Jingxuan Zhao
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Margaret Katana Ogongo
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Matthias Harlass
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne I Hahn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ann G Zauber
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - K Robin Yabroff
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Salehi O, Chandani KU, Sammartino CJ, Somasundar P, Espat NJ, Calvino AS, Kwon S. Impact of medicaid expansion on screenable versus non-screenable gastrointestinal cancers. J Cancer Policy 2025; 43:100525. [PMID: 39631725 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2024] [Revised: 12/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/01/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicaid expansion afforded increased healthcare access to low-income Americans contributing to a positive impact on cancer outcomes. However, it is unclear if these benefits were mainly due to enhanced access to cancer screening and earlier diagnosis versus access to cancer treatment METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried between 2010 and 2021 for Medicaid and uninsured patients with GI malignancies. Patients were stratified by screenable (SGI) and non-screenable (NGI) cancers and expansion state (ES) categories: early (EES) and late (LES) adopters, and non-expansion state (NES) cohorts. Statistical analyses, including difference-in-difference (DiD) and adjusted models, assessed the impact of Medicaid expansion on stage at diagnosis. RESULTS There were 230,159 pre-expansion and 539,028 post-expansion patients. There was an increase in Medicaid coverage (14.8 % vs. 11.1 %) and a concomitant decline in the uninsured population (5.3 % vs. 8.2 %) in the post-expansion era. For SGI cancers, Medicaid expansion was associated with significantly lower mean stage at diagnosis (DiD Coef. -0.12; p < 0.01). For NGI cancers, Medicaid expansion was associated with a lower mean stage at diagnosis but with much smaller coefficient (DiD Coef. -0.015; p < 0.01). Comparing EES and LES to NES, EES had more impact on lower mean stage at diagnosis (vs NES DiD Coef. -0.16; p < 0.01) compared to LES (vs NES DiD Coef. -0.02; p = 0.04) for SGI cancers. For NGI cancers, there was a modest reduction in mean stage at diagnosis only for EES (vs NES DiD Coef. -0.04; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Medicaid expansion, particularly for SGI cancers and early adopters, had a profound impact in lowering the mean stage at diagnosis. This emphasizes that long-term advantages of providing access to preventive care and screening, and thus earlier treatment, may be one of the main mechanisms of Medicaid expansion on improving cancer outcomes for GI malignancies. POLICY SUMMARY To establish the benefits of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act 2010 for gastrointestinal cancer patients particularly in screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Salehi
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kanishka Uttam Chandani
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI, USA
| | - Cara J Sammartino
- College of Health & Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ponnandai Somasundar
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - N Joseph Espat
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abdul Saied Calvino
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steve Kwon
- Roger Williams Surgery and Cancer Outcomes Research and Equity Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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Baeker Bispo J, Lee H, Pal Choudhury P, Bailey Z, Jemal A, Islami F. Government Housing Assistance and Cancer Screening Among Adults With Low Income. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:205-215. [PMID: 37943202 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Access to affordable housing may support cancer control for adults with low income by alleviating financial barriers to preventive care. This study examines relationships between cancer screening and receipt of government housing assistance among adults with low income. METHODS Data are from the 2019 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey. Eligible respondents were classified as up-to-date or not with breast cancer (BC), cervical cancer (CVC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model guideline-concordant screening by receipt of government housing assistance, overall and stratified by urban-rural status, race/ethnicity, and age. Analyses were performed in 2023. RESULTS Analyses for BC, CVC and CRC screening included 2,258, 3,132, and 3,233 respondents, respectively. There was no difference in CVC screening by housing assistance status, but screening for BC and CRC was higher among those who received assistance compared to those who did not (59.7% vs. 50.8%, p<0.01 for BC; 57.1% vs. 44.1%, p<0.01 for CRC). In models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, health status and insurance, these differences were not statistically significant for either BC or CRC screening. In stratified adjusted models, housing assistance was statistically significantly associated with increased BC screening in urban areas (aOR=1.35, 95% CI=1.00-1.82) and among Hispanic women (aOR=2.20, 95% CI=1.01-4.78) and women 45-54 years of age (aOR=2.10, 95% CI=1.17-3.75). CONCLUSIONS Policies that address housing affordability may enhance access to BC screening for some subgroups, including women in urban areas, Hispanic women, and younger women. More research on the mechanisms that link housing assistance to BC screening is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Baeker Bispo
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Hyunjung Lee
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Parichoy Pal Choudhury
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Zinzi Bailey
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Farhad Islami
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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Tonini V, Zanni M. Why is early detection of colon cancer still not possible in 2023? World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:211-224. [PMID: 38314134 PMCID: PMC10835528 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i3.211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a fundamental tool in the prevention and early detection of one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers. Over the years, screening, particularly in those settings where it is well organized, has succeeded in reducing the incidence of colon and rectal cancer and improving the prognosis related to them. Despite considerable advancements in screening technologies and strategies, the effectiveness of CRC screening programs remains less than optimal. This paper examined the multifaceted reasons behind the persistent lack of effectiveness in CRC screening initiatives. Through a critical analysis of current methodologies, technological limitations, patient-related factors, and systemic challenges, we elucidated the complex interplay that hampers the successful reduction of CRC morbidity and mortality rates. While acknowledging the advancements that have improved aspects of screening, we emphasized the necessity of addressing the identified barriers comprehensively. This study aimed to raise awareness of how important CRC screening is in reducing costs for this disease. Screening and early diagnosis are not only important in improving the prognosis of patients with CRC but can lead to an important reduction in the cost of treating a disease that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Spending more sooner can mean saving money later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tonini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Manuel Zanni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40138, Italy
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Fendrick AM, Lieberman D, Chen JV, Vahdat V, Ozbay AB, Limburg PJ. Impact of Eliminating Cost-Sharing by Medicare Beneficiaries for Follow-Up Colonoscopy After a Positive Stool-based Colorectal Cancer Screening Test. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:2113-2117. [PMID: 37787758 PMCID: PMC10581033 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Medicare coverage of a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based colorectal cancer screening test with no patient cost-sharing started January 2, 2023, which may favorably affect screening behavior. This analysis estimated the clinical and economic effects of increased colorectal cancer screening participation potentially resulting from this policy change in Medicare beneficiaries. The validated Colorectal Cancer and Adenoma Incidence & Mortality (CRC-AIM) model simulated three guideline-endorsed colorectal cancer screening strategies for average-risk individuals (colonoscopy every 10 years, annual fecal immunochemical test, triennial multitarget stool DNA) from ages 65-75 years. The base-case scenario assumed 0% coinsurance for initial screening and follow-up colonoscopy, real-world screening test use (colonoscopy = 45.3%, stool-based test = 24.4%, unscreened = 30.3%), and real-world follow-up colonoscopy rates. Comparative scenarios assumed an increase in the overall screening rate from 0% to 15% (5% increments) and an increase in the follow-up colonoscopy rate from 0% to 15% (5% increments). The base-case scenario resulted in 128 life-years gained (LYG)/1,000 individuals versus no screening and total screening and treatment costs of $7,938/person. The changes resulted in an increase of up to 26 LYG/1,000 individuals and a decrease in total screening and treatment costs by as much as $128/person. Follow-up colonoscopy at $0 coinsurance became cost-saving with any increase in either overall screening or follow-up colonoscopy. Policies that remove cost barriers to completing colorectal cancer screening may increase rates of screening participation, potentially improving economic and clinical outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE A follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based colorectal cancer screening test is necessary to complete the full screening process. Policies that remove cost barriers to completing colorectal cancer screening may lead to increases in overall participation rates and use of follow-up colonoscopy, improving clinical and economic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Mark Fendrick
- Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Health Management and Policy, Division of General Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - David Lieberman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Senore C, Lansdorp-Vogelaar I, de Jonge L, Rabeneck L. Rationale for organized Colorectal cancer screening programs. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2023; 66:101850. [PMID: 37852709 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2023.101850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health problem and it is expected that the number of persons diagnosed with CRC and CRC-related deaths will continue to increase. However, recent years have shown reductions in CRC incidence and mortality particularly among individuals aged 50 years and older which can be attributed to screening, improvements in patients' management, closer adherence to treatment guideline recommendations and a higher utilization of curative surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that there has been sufficient evidence that biennially screening using a stool-test or once-only endoscopy screening reduces CRC-related mortality. In Europe, between 2008 and 2018, nine countries have successfully implemented a population-based organized program and another six are in the roll-out phase. Population-based organized programs show higher screening participation rates and lower lack of compliance to follow-up testing after a positive screen test compared to opportunistic screening. Moreover, organized programs aim to provide high quality screening thereby reducing the risk of the harms of screening, including over-screening, and complications of screening, and poor follow-up of those who test positive. We describe how population-based organized CRC screening programs are preferred, since they reflect a more appropriate utilization of available resources, reduce inequities in access, and can integrate interventions addressing barriers to screening at the individual and health system levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Senore
- Epidemiology and Screening Unit - CPO, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
| | - Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lucie de Jonge
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Linda Rabeneck
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Beckett M, Goethals L, Kraus RD, Denysenko K, Barone Mussalem Gentiles MF, Pynda Y, Abdel-Wahab M. Proximity to Radiotherapy Center, Population, Average Income, and Health Insurance Status as Predictors of Cancer Mortality at the County Level in the United States. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300130. [PMID: 37769217 PMCID: PMC10581634 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sufficient radiotherapy (RT) capacity is essential to delivery of high-quality cancer care. However, despite sufficient capacity, universal access is not always possible in high-income countries because of factors beyond the commonly used parameter of machines per million people. This study assesses the barriers to RT in a high-income country and how these affect cancer mortality. METHODS This cross-sectional study used US county-level data obtained from Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Atomic Energy Agency Directory of Radiotherapy Centres. RT facilities in the United States were mapped using Geographic Information Systems software. Univariate analysis was used to identify whether distance to a RT center or various socioeconomic factors were predictive of all-cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR). Significant variables (P ≤ .05) on univariate analysis were included in a step-wise backward elimination method of multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Thirty-one percent of US counties have at least one RT facility and 8.3% have five or more. The median linear distance from a county's centroid to the nearest RT center was 36 km, and the median county all-cancer MIR was 0.37. The amount of RT centers, linear accelerators, and brachytherapy units per 1 million people were associated with all-cancer MIR (P < .05). Greater distance to RT facilities, lower county population, lower average income per county, and higher proportion of patients without health insurance were associated with increased all-cancer MIR (R-squared, 0.2113; F, 94.22; P < .001). CONCLUSION This analysis used unique high-quality data sets to identify significant barriers to RT access that correspond to higher cancer mortality at the county level. Geographic access, personal income, and insurance status all contribute to these concerning disparities. Efforts to address these barriers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luc Goethals
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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Zauber AG, Winawer SJ, O'Brien MJ, Mills GM, Allen JI, Feld AD, Jordan PA, Fleisher M, Orlow I, Meester RGS, Lansdorp-Vogelaar I, Rutter CM, Knudsen AB, Mandelson M, Shaukat A, Mendelsohn RB, Hahn AI, Lobaugh SM, Soto Palmer B, Serrano V, Kumar JR, Fischer SE, Chen JC, Bayuga-Miller S, Kuk D, O'Connell K, Church TR. Randomized Trial of Facilitated Adherence to Screening Colonoscopy vs Sequential Fecal-Based Blood Test. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:252-266. [PMID: 36948424 PMCID: PMC10330012 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.03.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines include screening colonoscopy and sequential high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing (HSgFOBT), with expectation of similar effectiveness based on the assumption of similar high adherence. However, adherence to screening colonoscopy compared with sequential HSgFOBT has not been reported. In this randomized clinical trial, we assessed adherence and pathology findings for a single screening colonoscopy vs sequential and nonsequential HSgFOBTs. METHODS Participants aged 40-69 years were enrolled at 3 centers representing different clinical settings. Participants were randomized into a single screening colonoscopy arm vs sequential HSgFOBT arm composed of 4-7 rounds. Initial adherence to screening colonoscopy and sequential adherence to HSgFOBT, follow-up colonoscopy for positive HSgFOBT tests, crossover to colonoscopy, and detection of advanced neoplasia or large serrated lesions (ADN-SERs) were measured. RESULTS There were 3523 participants included in the trial; 1761 and 1762 participants were randomized to the screening colonoscopy and HSgFOBT arms, respectively. Adherence was 1473 (83.6%) for the screening colonoscopy arm vs 1288 (73.1%) for the HSgFOBT arm after 1 round (relative risk [RR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.10-1.19; P ≤ .001), but only 674 (38.3%) over 4 sequential HSgFOBT rounds (RR, 2.19; 95% CI, 2.05-2.33). Overall adherence to any screening increased to 1558 (88.5%) in the screening colonoscopy arm during the entire study period and 1493 (84.7%) in the HSgFOBT arm (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07). Four hundred thirty-six participants (24.7%) crossed over to screening colonoscopy during the first 4 rounds. ADN-SERs were detected in 121 of the 1473 participants (8.2%) in the colonoscopy arm who were adherent to protocol in the first 12 months of the study, whereas detection of ADN-SERs among those who were not sequentially adherent (n = 709) to HSgFOBT was subpar (0.6%) (RR, 14.72; 95% CI, 5.46-39.67) compared with those who were sequentially adherent (3.3%) (n = 647) (RR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.61-3.98) to HSgFOBT in the first 4 rounds. When including colonoscopies from HSgFOBT patients who were never positive yet crossed over (n = 1483), 5.5% of ADN-SERs were detected (RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15-1.96) in the first 4 rounds. CONCLUSIONS Observed adherence to sequential rounds of HSgFOBT was suboptimal compared with a single screening colonoscopy. Detection of ADN-SERs was inferior when nonsequential HSgFOBT adherence was compared with sequential adherence. However, the greatest number of ADN-SERs was detected among those who crossed over to colonoscopy and opted to receive a colonoscopy. The effectiveness of an HSgFOBT screening program may be enhanced if crossover to screening colonoscopy is permitted. CLINICALTRIALS gov, Number: NCT00102011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann G Zauber
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| | - Sidney J Winawer
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael J O'Brien
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - John I Allen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Andrew D Feld
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Paul A Jordan
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Martin Fleisher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Irene Orlow
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Reinier G S Meester
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carolyn M Rutter
- Biostatistics Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amy B Knudsen
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Aasma Shaukat
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Robin B Mendelsohn
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Anne I Hahn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephanie M Lobaugh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | - Julie R Kumar
- Investigative Initiative Trials and Compassionate Use Studies, Novartis, East Hanover, New Jersey
| | - Sara E Fischer
- Department of Government, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jennifer C Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sharon Bayuga-Miller
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Kelli O'Connell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Timothy R Church
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Preston MA, Cadet D, Hunley R, Retnam R, Arezo S, Sheppard VB. Health Equity and Colorectal Cancer Awareness: a Community Health Educator Initiative. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER EDUCATION 2023; 38:225-230. [PMID: 34677801 PMCID: PMC8532449 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-021-02102-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality persist in rural and underserved communities. Our Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) activities are grounded in a bi-directional Community-to-Bench model in which the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator (NON CHE) Screen to Save (S2S) initiative was implemented. In this study, we assessed the impact of the NON CHE S2S in rural and underserved communities. Descriptive and comparative analyses were used to examine the role of the NON CHE S2S on CRC knowledge and CRC screening intent. Data included demographics, current CRC knowledge, awareness, and future CRC health plans. A multivariate linear regression was fit to survey scores for CRC knowledge. The NON CHE S2S engaged 441 participants with 170 surveys completed. The difference in participants' CRC knowledge before and after the NON CHE S2S intervention had an overall mean of 0.92 with a standard deviation of 2.56. At baseline, White participants had significantly higher CRC knowledge scores, correctly answering 1.94 (p = 0.007) more questions on average than Black participants. After the NON CHE S2S intervention, this difference was not statistically significant. Greater than 95% of participants agreed that the NON CHE S2S sessions impacted their intent to get screened for CRC. Equity of access to health information and the health care system can be achieved with precision public health strategies. The COE bi-directional Community-to-Bench model facilitated community connections through the NON CHE and increased awareness of CRC risk reduction, screening, treatment, and research. The NON CHE combined with S2S is a powerful tool to engage communities with the greatest health care needs and positively impact an individual's intent to "get screened" for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Preston
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA.
| | - Debbie Cadet
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA
| | - Rachel Hunley
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA
| | - Reuben Retnam
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA
| | - Sarah Arezo
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA
| | - Vanessa B Sheppard
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research-Community Outreach & Engagement, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298-0149, USA
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Qian Z, Chen X, Pucheril D, Al Khatib K, Lucas M, Nguyen DD, McNabb-Baltar J, Lipsitz SR, Melnitchouk N, Cole AP, Trinh QD. Long-Term Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Colorectal Cancer Screening in Its Targeted Population. Dig Dis Sci 2023; 68:1780-1790. [PMID: 36600118 PMCID: PMC9812352 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-022-07797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer screening continuously decreased its mortality and incidence. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act extended Medicaid eligibility to low-income and childless adults. Some states elected to adopt Medicaid at different times while others chose not to. Past studies on the effects of Medicaid expansion on colorectal cancer screening showed equivocal results based on short-term data following expansion. AIMS To examine the long-term impact of Medicaid expansion on colorectal cancer screening among its targeted population at its decade mark. METHODS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were extracted for childless adults below 138% federal poverty level in states with different Medicaid expansion statuses from 2012 to 2020. States were stratified into very early expansion states, early expansion states, late expansion states, and non-expansion states. Colorectal cancer screening prevalence was determined for eligible respondents. Difference-in-differences analyses were used to examine the effect of Medicaid expansion on colorectal cancer screening in states with different expansion statuses. RESULTS Colorectal cancer screening prevalence in very early, early, late, and non-expansion states all increased during the study period (40.45% vs. 48.14%, 47.52% vs 61.06%, 46.06% vs 58.92%, and 43.44% vs 56.70%). Difference-in-differences analysis showed significantly increased CRC screening prevalence in very early expansion states during 2016 compared to non-expansion states (Crude difference-in-differences + 16.45%, p = 0.02, Adjusted difference-in-differences + 15.9%, p = 0.03). No statistical significance was observed among other years and groups. CONCLUSIONS Colorectal cancer screening increased between 2012 and 2020 in all states regardless of expansion status. However, Medicaid expansion is not associated with long-term increased colorectal cancer screening prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Qian
- Division of Urological Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Daniel Pucheril
- Department of Surgery, Booshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH USA
| | - Khalid Al Khatib
- Division of Urological Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Mayra Lucas
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - David-Dan Nguyen
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Julia McNabb-Baltar
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Stuart R. Lipsitz
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Nelya Melnitchouk
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alexander P. Cole
- Division of Urological Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Quoc-Dien Trinh
- Division of Urological Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA ,Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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Kowalski AE. Behaviour within a Clinical Trial and Implications for Mammography Guidelines. THE REVIEW OF ECONOMIC STUDIES 2023; 90:432-462. [PMID: 36798741 PMCID: PMC9928190 DOI: 10.1093/restud/rdac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mammography guidelines have weakened in response to evidence that mammograms diagnose breast cancers that would never eventually cause symptoms, a phenomenon called "overdiagnosis." Given concerns about overdiagnosis, instead of recommending mammograms, US guidelines encourage women aged 40-49 to get them as they see fit. To assess whether these guidelines target women effectively, I propose an approach that examines mammography behavior within an influential clinical trial that followed participants long enough to find overdiagnosis. I find that women who are more likely to receive mammograms are healthier and have higher socioeconomic status. More importantly, I find that the 20-year level of overdiagnosis is at least 3.5 times higher among women who are most likely to receive mammograms. At least 36% of their cancers are overdiagnosed. These findings imply that US guidelines encourage mammograms among healthier women who are more likely to be overdiagnosed by them. Guidelines in other countries do not.
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13
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Wu J, Moss H. Financial Toxicity in the Post-Health Reform Era. J Am Coll Radiol 2023; 20:10-17. [PMID: 36509218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in March 2010, was comprehensive health care reform legislation aimed to improve health care access and quality of care and curb health care-related costs. This review focuses on key provisions of the ACA and their impact on financial toxicity. We will focus our review on cancer care, because this is the most commonly studied disease process in respect to financial toxicity. Patients with cancer face rising expenditures and financial burden, which in turn impact quality of life, compliance to treatment, and survival outcomes. Health insurance expansion include dependent-coverage expansion, Medicaid expansion, and establishment of the Marketplace. Coverage reform focused on reducing financial barriers by limiting cost sharing. Payment reforms included new innovative payment and delivery systems to focus on improving outcomes and reducing costs. Challenges remain as efforts to reduce costs have led to the expansion of insurance plans, such as high-deductible health plans, that may ultimately worsen financial toxicity in cancer and high out-of-pocket costs for further diagnostic testing and procedures. Further research is necessary to evaluate the long-term impacts of the ACA provisions-and threats to the ACA-on outcomes and the costs accrued by patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Wu
- Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
| | - Haley Moss
- Assistant Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Shafer PR, Dusetzina SB, Sabik LM, Platts-Mills TF, Stearns SC, Trogdon JG. High Deductible Health Plans and Use of Free Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2023; 60:469580231182512. [PMID: 37329296 PMCID: PMC10278429 DOI: 10.1177/00469580231182512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The Affordable Care Act aimed to increase use of preventive services by eliminating cost-sharing to consumers. However, patients may be unaware of this benefit or they may not seek preventive services if they anticipate that the cost of potential diagnostic or treatment services will be too high, both more likely among those in high deductible health plans. We used nationally representative private health insurance claims (100% sample of IBM® MarketScan®) for the United States from 2006 to 2018, restricting the data to enrollment and claims for non-elderly adults who were enrolled for the full plan year. The cross-sectional sample (185 million person-years) is used to describe trends in preventive service use and costs from 2008 through 2016. The cohort sample (9 million people) focuses on the elimination of cost-sharing for certain high-value preventive services in late 2010, requiring continuous enrollment across 2010 and 2011. We examine whether HDHP enrollment is associated with use of eligible preventive services using semi-parametric difference-in-differences to account for endogenous plan selection. Our preferred model implies that HDHP enrollment was associated with a reduction of the post-ACA change in any use of eligible preventive services by 0.2 percentage points or 12.5%. Cancer screenings were unaffected but HDHP enrollment was associated with smaller increases in wellness visits, immunizations, and screening for chronic conditions and sexually transmitted infections. We also find that the policy was ineffective at reducing out-of-pocket costs for the eligible preventive services, likely due to implementation issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Shafer
- Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Lindsay M. Sabik
- School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Sally C. Stearns
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Justin G. Trogdon
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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15
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Smith NK, Fendrick AM. Value-Based Insurance Design: Clinically Nuanced Consumer Cost Sharing to Increase the Use of High-Value Medications. JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY AND LAW 2022; 47:797-813. [PMID: 35867528 DOI: 10.1215/03616878-10041191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Consumer cost sharing is widely employed by payers in the United States in an effort to control spending. Most cost-sharing strategies set patient contributions on the basis of costs incurred by payers and often do not consider medical necessity as a coverage criterion. Available evidence suggests that increases in cost sharing worsen health disparities and adversely affect patient-centered outcomes, particularly among economically vulnerable individuals, people of color, and those with chronic conditions. A key question has been how to better engage consumers while balancing appropriate access to essential services with increasing fiscal pressures. Value-based insurance design (VBID) is a promising approach designed to improve desired clinical and financial outcomes, in which out-of-pocket costs are based on the potential for clinical benefit, taking into consideration the patient's clinical condition. For more than two decades, broad multistakeholder support and multiple federal policy initiatives have led to the implementation of VBID programs that enhance access to vital preventive and chronic disease medications for millions of Americans. A robust evidence base shows that when financial barriers to essential medications are reduced, increased adherence results, leading to improved patient-centered outcomes, reduced health care disparities, and in some (but not most) instances, lower total medical expenditures.
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Fendrick AM, Lieberman D, Vahdat V, Chen JV, Ozbay AB, Limburg PJ. Cost-Effectiveness of Waiving Coinsurance for Follow-Up Colonoscopy after a Positive Stool-Based Colorectal Screening Test in a Medicare Population. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2022; 15:653-660. [PMID: 35768200 PMCID: PMC9530644 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-22-0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Commercial insurance covers a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive colorectal cancer-screening test with no patient cost-sharing. Instituting a similar policy for Medicare beneficiaries may increase screening adherence and improve outcomes. The cost-effectiveness of stool-based colorectal cancer screening was compared across adherence scenarios that assumed Medicare coinsurance status quo (20% for follow-up colonoscopy) or waived coinsurance. The CRC-AIM model simulated previously unscreened eligible Medicare beneficiaries undergoing stool-based colorectal cancer screening at age 65 for 10 years. Medicare costs, colorectal cancer cases, colorectal cancer-related deaths, life-years gained (LYG), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) were estimated versus no screening. Scenario 1 (S1) assumed 20% coinsurance for follow-up colonoscopy. Scenario 2 (S2) assumed waived coinsurance without adherence changes. Scenarios 3-7 (S3-S7) assumed that waiving coinsurance increased real-world stool-based screening and/or follow-up colonoscopy adherence by 5% or 10%. Sensitivity analyses assumed 1%-4% increased adherence. Cost-effectiveness threshold was ≤$100,000/QALY. Waiving coinsurance without adherence changes (S2) did not affect outcomes versus S1. S3-S7 versus S1 over 10 years estimated up to 3.6 fewer colorectal cancer cases/1,000 individuals, up to 2.1 fewer colorectal cancer deaths, up to 20.7 more LYG, and had comparable total costs per-patient (≤$6,478 vs. $6,449, respectively) as reduced colorectal cancer medical costs offset increased screening and colonoscopy costs. In sensitivity analyses, any increase in adherence after waiving coinsurance was cost-effective and increased LYG. In simulated Medicare beneficiaries, waiving coinsurance for follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based test improved outcomes and was cost-effective when assumed to modestly increase colorectal cancer screening and/or follow-up colonoscopy adherence. PREVENTION RELEVANCE Follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based test is necessary to complete the colorectal cancer-screening process. This analysis demonstrated that in a simulated Medicare population, waiving coinsurance for a follow-up colonoscopy improved estimated outcomes and was cost-effective when it was assumed that waiving the coinsurance modestly increased screening adherence. See related Spotlight, p. 641.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Mark Fendrick
- Division of General Medicine, Departments of Internal Medicine and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Corresponding Author: A. Mark Fendrick, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 16/4th floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Phone: 734-647-9688; Fax: 734-936-8944;
| | - David Lieberman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | | | | | - Paul J. Limburg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Carrasco-Aguilar A, Galán JJ, Carrasco RA. Obamacare: A bibliometric perspective. Front Public Health 2022; 10:979064. [PMID: 36033824 PMCID: PMC9416003 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.979064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Obamacare is the colloquial name given to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) signed into law by President Obama in the USA, which ultimately aims to provide universal access to health care services for US citizens. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the political-legal, economic, social, management (or administrative), and medical (or health) repercussions of this law, using a bibliometric methodology as a basis. In addition, the main contributors to research on ACA issues have been identified in terms of authors, organizations, journals, and countries. The downward trend in scientific production on this law has been noted, and it has been concluded that a balance has not yet been reached between the coexistence of private and public health care that guarantees broad social coverage without economic or other types of barriers. The law requires political consensus to be implemented in a definitive and global manner for the whole of the United States.
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18
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Lieberman D, Ladabaum U, Brill JV, May FP, Kim LS, Murphy C, Wender R, Teixeira K. Reducing the Burden of Colorectal Cancer: AGA Position Statements. Gastroenterology 2022; 163:520-526. [PMID: 35715380 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Lieberman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
| | - Uri Ladabaum
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Redwood City, California
| | - Joel V Brill
- Predictive Health, Phoenix, Arizona; University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Folasade P May
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; University of California-Los Angeles Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Caitlin Murphy
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Richard Wender
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Marks VA, Hsiang WR, Nie J, Demkowicz P, Umer W, Haleem A, Galal B, Pak I, Kim D, Salazar MC, Berger ER, Boffa DJ, Leapman MS. Acceptance of Simulated Adult Patients With Medicaid Insurance Seeking Care in a Cancer Hospital for a New Cancer Diagnosis. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2222214. [PMID: 35838668 PMCID: PMC9287756 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Although there have been significant increases in the number of US residents insured through Medicaid, the ability of patients with Medicaid to access cancer care services is less well known. OBJECTIVE To assess facility-level acceptance of Medicaid insurance among patients diagnosed with common cancers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This national cross-sectional secret shopper study was conducted in 2020 in a random sample of Commission on Cancer-accredited facilities in the United States using a simulated cohort of Medicaid-insured adult patients with colorectal, breast, kidney, and melanoma skin cancer. EXPOSURES Telephone call requesting an appointment for a patient with Medicaid with a new cancer diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Acceptance of Medicaid insurance for cancer care. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with Medicaid acceptance for colorectal, breast, kidney, and skin cancer. High access hospitals were defined as those offering care across all 4 cancer types surveyed. Explanatory measures included facility-level factors from the 2016 American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services General Information database. RESULTS A nationally representative sample of 334 facilities was created, of which 226 (67.7%) provided high access to patients with Medicaid seeking cancer care. Medicaid acceptance differed by cancer site, with 319 facilities (95.5%) accepting Medicaid insurance for breast cancer care; 302 (90.4%), colorectal; 290 (86.8%), kidney; and 266 (79.6%), skin. Comprehensive community cancer programs (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; P = .007) were significantly less likely to provide high access to care for patients with Medicaid. Facilities with nongovernment, nonprofit (vs for-profit: OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1-10.8; P = .03) and government (vs for-profit: OR, 6.6; 95% CI, 1.6-27.2; P = .01) ownership, integrated salary models (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.5; P = .001), and average (vs above-average: OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 1.4-29.6; P = .02) or below-average (vs above-average: OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 1.5-47.5; P = .02) effectiveness of care were associated with high access to Medicaid. State Medicaid expansion status was not significantly associated with high access. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study identified access disparities for patients with Medicaid insurance at centers designated for high-quality care. These findings highlight gaps in cancer care for the expanding population of patients receiving Medicaid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria A. Marks
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Walter R. Hsiang
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- University of California San Francisco
| | - James Nie
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Patrick Demkowicz
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | | | | | - Irene Pak
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dana Kim
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | | | - Daniel J. Boffa
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Michael S. Leapman
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center, New Haven, Connecticut
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20
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Gaalema DE, Savage PD, O'Neill S, Bolívar HA, Denkmann D, Priest JS, Khadanga S, Ades PA. The Association of Patient Educational Attainment With Cardiac Rehabilitation Adherence and Health Outcomes. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2022; 42:227-234. [PMID: 34840247 PMCID: PMC9127001 DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Participating in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after a cardiac event provides many clinical benefits. Patients of lower socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to attend CR. It is unclear whether they attain similar clinical benefits as patients with higher SES. This study examines how educational attainment (one measure of SES) predicts both adherence to and improvements during CR. METHODS This was a prospective observational study of 1407 patients enrolled between January 2016 and December 2019 in a CR program located in Burlington, VT. Years of education, smoking status (self-reported and objectively measured), depression symptom level (Patient Health Questionnaire), self-reported physical function (Medical Outcomes Survey), level of fitness (peak metabolic equivalent, peak oxygen uptake, and handgrip strength), and body composition (body mass index and waist circumference) were obtained at entry to, and for a subset (n = 917), at exit from CR. Associations of educational attainment with baseline characteristics were examined using Kruskal-Wallis or Pearson's χ 2 tests as appropriate. Associations of educational attainment with improvements during CR were examined using analysis of covariance or logistic regression as appropriate. RESULTS Educational attainment was significantly associated with most patient characteristics examined at intake and was a significant predictor of the number of CR sessions completed. Lower educational attainment was associated with less improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness, even when controlling for other variables. CONCLUSIONS Patients with lower SES attend fewer sessions of CR than their higher SES counterparts and may not attain the same level of benefit from attending. Programs need to increase attendance within this population and consider program modifications that further support behavioral changes during CR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diann E Gaalema
- Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington (Drs Gaalema, O'Neill, and Bolívar and Ms Denkmann); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington (Mr Savage and Drs Khadanga and Ades); and Department of Biostatistics, University of Vermont, Burlington (Dr Priest)
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Islami F, Guerra CE, Minihan A, Yabroff KR, Fedewa SA, Sloan K, Wiedt TL, Thomson B, Siegel RL, Nargis N, Winn RA, Lacasse L, Makaroff L, Daniels EC, Patel AV, Cance WG, Jemal A. American Cancer Society's report on the status of cancer disparities in the United States, 2021. CA Cancer J Clin 2022; 72:112-143. [PMID: 34878180 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In this report, the authors provide comprehensive and up-to-date US data on disparities in cancer occurrence, major risk factors, and access to and utilization of preventive measures and screening by sociodemographic characteristics. They also review programs and resources that have reduced cancer disparities and provide policy recommendations to further mitigate these inequalities. The overall cancer death rate is 19% higher among Black males than among White males. Black females also have a 12% higher overall cancer death rate than their White counterparts despite having an 8% lower incidence rate. There are also substantial variations in death rates for specific cancer types and in stage at diagnosis, survival, exposure to risk factors, and receipt of preventive measures and screening by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. For example, kidney cancer death rates by sex among American Indian/Alaska Native people are ≥64% higher than the corresponding rates in each of the other racial/ethnic groups, and the 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined is 14% lower among residents of poorer counties than among residents of more affluent counties. Broad and equitable implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as increasing health insurance coverage through Medicaid expansion or other initiatives, could substantially reduce cancer disparities. However, progress will require not only equitable local, state, and federal policies but also broad interdisciplinary engagement to elevate and address fundamental social inequities and longstanding systemic racism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Islami
- Cancer Disparity Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carmen E Guerra
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adair Minihan
- Screening and Risk Factors Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - K Robin Yabroff
- Health Services Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Stacey A Fedewa
- Screening and Risk Factors Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kirsten Sloan
- Public Policy, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Tracy L Wiedt
- Health Equity, Prevention and Early Detection, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Blake Thomson
- Cancer Disparity Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rebecca L Siegel
- Surveillance Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nigar Nargis
- Tobacco Control Research, Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Robert A Winn
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Lisa Lacasse
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Laura Makaroff
- Prevention and Early Detection, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Elvan C Daniels
- Extramural Discovery Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alpa V Patel
- Department of Population Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William G Cance
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Department of Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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22
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Almuqarrab A, Almuqamam A, Alhayki F, Alsultan F, Almuqamam M. The Impact of Waived Cost-Sharing Policy on COVID-19 Daily Testing and Deaths. Cureus 2022; 14:e21843. [PMID: 35291525 PMCID: PMC8896540 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Jennings N, Garcia DO, Eng H, Calhoun E. Utilization and cost sharing for preventive cancer screenings. HEALTH POLICY OPEN 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hpopen.2021.100044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Change in mammography screening attendance after removing the out-of-pocket fee: a population-based study in Sweden (2014-2018). Cancer Causes Control 2021; 32:1257-1268. [PMID: 34322823 PMCID: PMC8492563 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-021-01476-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To assess the change in mammography screening attendance in Sweden—overall and in sociodemographic groups at risk of low attendance—after removal of the out-of-pocket fee in 2016. Methods Individual-level data on all screening invitations and attendance between 2014 and 2018 were linked to sociodemographic data from Statistics Sweden. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for attendance by time period and sociodemographic factor were computed using mixed logistic regression to account for repeated measures within women. The study sample included 1.4 million women, aged 40–75, who had a mammography screening appointment in 2014–2015 and/or 2017–2018 in 14 of Sweden’s 21 health care regions. Results Overall screening attendance was 83.8% in 2014–2015 and 84.1% in 2017–2018 (+ 0.3 percentage points, 95% CI 0.2–0.4). The greatest increase in attendance was observed in non-Nordic women with the lowest income, where attendance rose from 62.9 to 65.8% (+ 2.9 points, 95% CI 2.3–3.6), and among women with four or more risk factors for low attendance, where attendance rose from 59.2 to 62.0% (+ 2.8 points, 95% CI 2.2–3.4). Conclusion Screening attendance did not undergo any important increase after implementing free screening, although attendance among some sociodemographic groups increased by almost three percentage points after the policy change.
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Norris HC, Richardson HM, Benoit MAC, Shrosbree B, Smith JE, Fendrick AM. Utilization Impact of Cost-Sharing Elimination for Preventive Care Services: A Rapid Review. Med Care Res Rev 2021; 79:175-197. [PMID: 34157906 DOI: 10.1177/10775587211027372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Consumer cost-sharing has been shown to diminish utilization of preventive services. Recent efforts, including provisions within the Affordable Care Act, have sought to increase use of preventive care through elimination of cost-sharing for clinically indicated services. We conducted a rapid review of the literature to determine the impact of cost-share elimination on utilization of preventive services. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL Complete databases as well as in grey literature. A total of 35 articles were included in qualitative synthesis and findings were summarized for three clinical service categories: cancer screenings, contraceptives, and additional services. Impacts of cost-sharing elimination varied depending on clinical service, with a majority of findings showing increases in use. Studies that included socioeconomic status reported that those who were financially vulnerable incurred substantial increases in utilization. Future investigations on additional clinical services are warranted as is research to better elucidate populations who most benefit from cost-sharing elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope C Norris
- The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Marie-Anais C Benoit
- The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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26
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Bandi P, Minihan AK, Siegel RL, Islami F, Nargis N, Jemal A, Fedewa SA. Updated Review of Major Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Test Use in the United States in 2018 and 2019, with a Focus on Smoking Cessation. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021; 30:1287-1299. [PMID: 34011554 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-1754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer prevention and early detection efforts are central to reducing cancer burden. Herein, we present estimates of cancer risk factors and screening tests in 2018 and 2019 among US adults, with a focus on smoking cessation. Cigarette smoking reached a historic low in 2019 (14.2%) partly because 61.7% (54.9 million) of all persons who had ever smoked had quit. Yet, the quit ratio was <45% among lower-income, uninsured, and Medicaid-insured persons, and was <55% among Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, lower-educated, lesbian, gay or bisexual, and recent immigrant persons, and in 12 of 17 Southern states. Obesity levels remain high (2017-2018: 42.4%) and were disproportionately higher among Black (56.9%) and Hispanic (43.7%) women. HPV vaccination in adolescents 13 to 17 years remains underutilized and over 40% were not up-to-date in 2019. Cancer screening prevalence was suboptimal in 2018 (colorectal cancer ≥50 years: 65.6%; breast ≥45 years: 63.2%; cervical 21-65 years: 83.7%), especially among uninsured adults (colorectal: 29.8%; breast: 31.1%). This snapshot of cancer prevention and early detection measures was mixed, and substantial racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities persisted. However, gains could be accelerated with targeted interventions to increase smoking cessation in under-resourced populations, stem the obesity epidemic, and improve screening and HPV vaccination coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Bandi
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Adair K Minihan
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rebecca L Siegel
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Farhad Islami
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nigar Nargis
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Stacey A Fedewa
- Surveillance & Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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Jones SMW, Schuler TA, Padamsee TJ, Andersen MR. Financial Anxiety is Associated With Cancer Screening Adherence in Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer. Ann Behav Med 2021; 55:1241-1245. [PMID: 33761532 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have examined the impact of material financial hardship on cancer screening but without focusing on the psychological aspects of financial hardship. PURPOSE This study examined the effects of different types of financial anxiety on adherence to breast cancer screening in women at high risk of breast cancer. Adherence to cervical cancer screening was also examined to determine whether associations between financial anxiety and screening adherence were unique to breast cancer screening or more general. METHODS Women (n = 324) aged 30-50 and at high risk for inherited breast cancer completed a survey on general financial anxiety, worry about affording healthcare, financial stigma due to cancer risk, and adherence to cancer screening. Multivariate analyses controlled for poverty, age, and race. RESULTS More financial anxiety was associated with lower odds of mammogram adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97, confidence interval [CI] = 0.94, 0.99), Pap smear adherence (OR = 0.98, CI = 0.96, 0.996), and clinical breast examination adherence (OR = 0.98, CI = 0.96, 0.995). More worry about affording healthcare was associated with lower odds of clinical breast examination adherence (OR = 0.95, CI = 0.91, 0.9992) but not mammogram or Pap smear adherence (p > .05). Financial stigma due to cancer risk was associated with lower odds of Pap smear adherence (OR = 0.87, CI = 0.77, 0.97) but no other cancer screenings (p > .07). CONCLUSIONS Financial anxiety may impede cancer screening, even for high-risk women aware of their risk status. Clinical interventions focused on social determinants of health may also need to address financial anxiety for women at high risk of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salene M W Jones
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tammy A Schuler
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tasleem J Padamsee
- The Ohio State University College of Public Health and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - M Robyn Andersen
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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Mohs Surgery for SEER Registry-Captured Melanoma In Situ and Rare Cutaneous Tumors: Comparing National Utilization Patterns Before and After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (2010) and Appropriate Use Criteria (2012). Dermatol Surg 2021; 46:1021-1029. [PMID: 31929340 DOI: 10.1097/dss.0000000000002316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the appropriate use criteria (AUC) for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) had the potential to increase utilization rates of MMS for indicated skin cancers, but it is unknown whether this has occurred. OBJECTIVE To determine whether rates of MMS utilization for head and neck melanoma in situ (MIS) and rare cutaneous tumors (RCTs) increased after the implementation of the ACA and AUC publication. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective review using data from the SEER database. Melanoma in situ and RCT tumor cases from before and after the ACA and AUC publication were compared. RESULTS Twenty-four thousand six hundred seventy-eight cases were analyzed. Mohs micrographic surgery utilization for MIS decreased from 13.9% before the ACA to 12.3% after the ACA (odds ratio 0.87; p = .012). There was no significant change in MMS utilization for MIS after publication of the AUC. There was also no significant change in MMS utilization for treatment of RCT after the ACA or AUC publication. Stratification of patients into age groups younger or older than 65 years did not change utilization rates. CONCLUSION Rates of MMS for treatment of MIS and RCT have not increased since the advent of the ACA or AUC. This finding highlights the need for continued efforts to improve access to MMS and to increase education of its utility in treating skin cancer.
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Einav L, Finkelstein A, Oostrom T, Ostriker A, Williams H. Screening and Selection: The Case of Mammograms. THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW 2020; 110:3836-3870. [PMID: 34305149 PMCID: PMC8300583 DOI: 10.1257/aer.20191191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
We analyze selection into screening in the context of recommendations that breast cancer screening start at age 40. Combining medical claims with a clinical oncology model, we document that compliers with the recommendation are less likely to have cancer than younger women who select into screening or women who never screen. We show this selection is quantitatively important: shifting the recommendation from age 40 to 45 results in three times as many deaths if compliers were randomly selected than under the estimated patterns of selection. The results highlight the importance of considering characteristics of compliers when making and designing recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liran Einav
- Department of Economics, Stanford University, and the National Bureau of Economic Research
| | - Amy Finkelstein
- Department of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the National Bureau of Economic Research
| | | | | | - Heidi Williams
- Department of Economics, Stanford University, and the National Bureau of Economic Research
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Kindratt TB, Atem F, Dallo FJ, Allicock M, Balasubramanian BA. The Influence of Patient-Provider Communication on Cancer Screening. J Patient Exp 2020; 7:1648-1657. [PMID: 33457626 PMCID: PMC7786660 DOI: 10.1177/2374373520924993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have examined how different qualities and modes (face-to-face vs electronic) of patient-provider communication (PPC) influence cancer screening uptake. Our objective was to determine whether receiving a breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening is influenced by (1) qualities of face-to-face and (2) the use of e-mail PPC. We analyzed Health Information National Trends Survey 4, cycles 1 to 4 data. To assess qualities of face-to-face PPC, adults reported how often physicians spent enough time with them, explained so they understood, gave them a chance to ask questions, addressed feelings and emotions, involved them in decisions, confirmed understanding, and helped them with uncertainty. Adults reported whether they used e-mail PPC. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the odds of receiving cancer screenings based on face-to-face and e-mail PPC. Adults whose health-care providers involved them in decision-making had highest odds of receiving breast (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-1.71), cervical (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.06-1.60), and colorectal (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.03-1.51) cancer screenings. No significant associations were observed between e-mail PPC and cancer screenings. More research is needed to explore this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany B Kindratt
- Public Health Program, Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Folefac Atem
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, UT Health, School of Public Health Dallas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Florence J Dallo
- Department of Public and Environmental Wellness, School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Marlyn Allicock
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UT Health, School of Public Health Dallas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UT Southwestern–Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bijal A Balasubramanian
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UT Southwestern–Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, UT Health, School of Public Health Dallas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Michopoulos S, Axiaris G, Baxevanis P, Stoupaki M, Gkagkari V, Leonidakis G, Zampeli E, Sotiropoulou M, Petraki K. Retroflexion, a costless endoscopic maneuver, increases adenoma detection rate in the ascending colon. Ann Gastroenterol 2020; 34:53-60. [PMID: 33414622 PMCID: PMC7774652 DOI: 10.20524/aog.2020.0549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Missed polyps during colonoscopy are considered an important factor for interval cancer appearance, especially in the ascending colon (AC). We evaluated the contribution of retroflexion to polyp and adenoma detection in the AC. Methods This prospective observational study included consecutive patients who underwent a complete colonoscopy between 06/2017 and 06/2018. The AC was examined in 2 phases: the first included 2 forward views from the hepatic flexure to the cecum; the second involved a retroflexion in the cecum, inspection up to the hepatic flexure and reinsertion to the cecum. Results The study included 655 patients, 628 (95.88%) with successful retroflexion (mean age: 62.5±10.8 years, 332 male). Indications for colonoscopy were screening in 33.28%, follow up in 36.03%, and diagnostic assessment in 30.69%. In total, 286 polyps and 220 adenomas were detected in the AC. Phase 1 identified 119 adenomas, yielding an adenoma detection rate (ADR) in the AC of 14.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.52-16.84%) while phase 2 identified 86 additional adenomas, improving the ADR in the AC to 22.75% (95%CI 19.54-25.96%; P<0.01). Adenoma miss rate was 39.1% (86/225) and per-patient adenoma miss rate was 11.15% (73/655). Retroflexion proved beneficial mainly in the upper third of the AC (odds ratio [OR] 4.29, 95%CI 1.84-11.56; P<0.01) and for small (<5 mm) adenomas (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.02-2.56; P=0.04). Multivariate analysis showed that age >60 years, detection of adenomas in forward views and the indication “follow up” influenced ADR during retroflexion. Conclusion Retroflexion is a simple and safe maneuver that increases the ADR in the AC and should complete a second forward view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridon Michopoulos
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Georgios Axiaris
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Panagiotis Baxevanis
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Maria Stoupaki
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Vassiliki Gkagkari
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Georgios Leonidakis
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | - Evanthia Zampeli
- Gastroenterology Department, "Alexandra" Hospital, Athens (Spyridon Michopoulos, Georgios Axiaris, Panagiotis Baxevanis, Maria Stoupaki, Vassiliki Gkagkari, Georgios Leoniakis, Evanthia Zampeli)
| | | | - Kalliopi Petraki
- Pathology Department, "Metropolitan" Hospital, P. Faliro (Kalliopi Petraki), Greece
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Preston MA, Ross L, Chukmaitov A, Smith SA, Odlum ML, Dahman B, Sheppard VB. Health Insurance Coverage Mandates: Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Post-ACA Era. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2020; 14:123-130. [PMID: 32917646 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-20-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Building a culture of precision public health requires research that includes health delivery model with innovative systems, health policies, and programs that support this vision. Health insurance mandates are effective mechanisms that many state policymakers use to increase the utilization of preventive health services, such as colorectal cancer screening. This study estimated the effects of health insurance mandate variations on colorectal cancer screening post Affordable Care Act (ACA) era. The study analyzed secondary data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the NCI State Cancer Legislative Database (SCLD) from 1997 to 2014. BRFSS data were merged with SCLD data by state ID. The target population was U.S. adults, age 50 to 74, who lived in states where health insurance was mandated or nonmandated before and after the implementation of ACA. Using a difference-in-differences (DD) approach with a time-series analysis, we evaluated the effects of health insurance mandates on colorectal cancer screening status based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. The adjusted average marginal effects from the DD model indicate that health insurance mandates increased the probability of up-to-date screenings versus noncompliance by 2.8% points, suggesting that an estimated 2.37 million additional age-eligible persons would receive a screening with such health insurance mandates. Compliant participants' mean age was 65 years and 57% were women (n = 32,569). Our findings are robust for various model specifications. Health insurance mandates that lower out-of-pocket expenses constitute an effective approach to increase colorectal cancer screenings for the population, as a whole. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: The value added includes future health care reforms that increase access to preventive services, such as CRC screening, are likely with lower out-of-pocket costs and will increase the number of people who are considered "up-to-date". Such policies have been used historically to improve health outcomes, and they are currently being used as public health strategies to increase access to preventive health services in an effort to improve the nation's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Preston
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. .,Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Levi Ross
- Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - Askar Chukmaitov
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sharla A Smith
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, Kansas
| | | | - Bassam Dahman
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Vanessa B Sheppard
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Office of Health Equity & Disparities Research, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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Cliff BQ, Hirth RA, Mark Fendrick A. Spillover Effects From A Consumer-Based Intervention To Increase High-Value Preventive Care. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020; 38:448-455. [PMID: 30830812 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Increasing the use of high-value medical services and reducing the use of services with little or no clinical value are key goals for efficient health systems. Yet encouraging the use of high-value services may unintentionally affect the use of low-value services. We examined the likelihood of high- and low-value service use in the first two years after an insurance benefit change in 2011 for one state's employees that promoted use of high-value preventive services. In the intervention group, compared to a control sample with stable benefit plans, in year 1 the likelihood of high-value service use increased 11.0 percentage points, and the likelihood of low-value service use increased 7.9 percentage points. For that year we associated 74 percent of the increase in high-value services and 57 percent of the increase in low-value services with greater use of preventive visits. Our results imply that interventions aimed at increasing receipt of high-value preventive services can cause spillovers to low-value services and should include deterrents to low-value care as implemented in later years of this program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsy Q Cliff
- Betsy Q. Cliff ( ) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor
| | - Richard A Hirth
- Richard A. Hirth is a professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health
| | - A Mark Fendrick
- A. Mark Fendrick is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan
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McGrew KM, Peck JD, Vesely SK, Janitz AE, Snider CA, Dougherty TM, Campbell JE. Effect Modification of the Association Between Race and Stage at Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis by Socioeconomic Status. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2020; 25 Suppl 5, Tribal Epidemiology Centers: Advancing Public Health in Indian Country for Over 20 Years:S29-S35. [PMID: 31348188 PMCID: PMC7043013 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000000993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare risks of distant-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis between whites and American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) and to explore effect modification by area-based socioeconomic status (SES). DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using data from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry. SETTING Oklahoma. PARTICIPANTS White and AI/AN cases of CRC diagnosed in Oklahoma between 2001 and 2008 (N = 8 438). A subanalysis was performed on the cohort of those aged 50 years and older (N = 7 728). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Risk of distant-stage CRC diagnosis stratified by SES score. RESULTS Race and SES were independently associated with distant-stage diagnosis. In SES-stratified analyses, AI/ANs in the 2 lowest SES groups experienced increased risks in the overall cohort and among those aged 50 years and older. In multivariable models, risks remained significant among those aged 50 years and older in the lowest SES groups (Adjusted risk ratio SES score of 2: 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.63 and adjusted risk ratio SES score of 1: 1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.44). CONCLUSION Socioeconomic status is an effect modifier in the association between race/ethnicity and stage at CRC diagnosis. Disparities in stage at CRC diagnosis exist between AI/ANs and whites with lower estimated SES. Efforts are needed to increase CRC screening among lower SES AI/ANs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin M. McGrew
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Jennifer D. Peck
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Sara K. Vesely
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Amanda E. Janitz
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Cuyler A. Snider
- Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Tyler M. Dougherty
- Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Janis E. Campbell
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
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The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable: Past Performance, Current and Future Goals. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2020; 30:499-509. [PMID: 32439084 DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2020.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) is an organization of organizations with staffing, funding and leadership provided by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and guidance and funding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2014, ACS, CDC, and the NCCRT launched the 80% by 2018 campaign. This highly successful initiative activated hundreds of organizations to prioritize colorectal cancer screening, disseminated smart, evidence-based interventions, and ultimately led to 9.3 million more Americans being up to date with screening compared with the precampaign rate. It's new campaign, 80% in Every Community, is designed to address persistent screening disparities.
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36
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Monticciolo DL. Current Guidelines and Gaps in Breast Cancer Screening. J Am Coll Radiol 2020; 17:1269-1275. [PMID: 32473894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Mammography screening is proven to significantly decrease breast cancer mortality, with a 40% or more reduction expected with annual use starting at age 40 for women of average risk. However, less than half of all eligible women have a mammogram annually. The elimination of cost sharing for screening made possible by the Affordable Care Act (2010) encouraged screening but mainly for those already insured. The United States Preventive Services Task Force 2009 guidelines recommended against screening those 40 to 49 years old and have left women over 74 years of age vulnerable to coverage loss. Other populations for whom significant gaps in risk information or screening use exist, including women of lower socioeconomic status, black women, men at higher than average risk of breast cancer, and sexual and gender minorities. Further work is needed to achieve higher rates of screening acceptance for all appropriate individuals so that the full mortality and treatment benefits of mammography screening can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra L Monticciolo
- Vice Chair for Research, and Section Chief, Breast Imaging, Department of Radiology, Texas A&M University, Temple, Texas; Baylor Scott & White Healthcare-Central Texas, Temple, Texas.
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Yabroff KR, Valdez S, Jacobson M, Han X, Fendrick AM. The Changing Health Insurance Coverage Landscape in the United States. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2020; 40:e264-e274. [PMID: 32453633 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_279951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the health insurance coverage landscape in the United States during the past decade have important implications for receipt and affordability of cancer care. In this paper, we summarize evidence for the association between health insurance coverage and cancer prevention and treatment. We then discuss ongoing changes in health care coverage, including implementation of provisions of the Affordable Care Act, increasing prevalence of high-deductible health insurance plans, and factors that affect health care delivery, with a focus on vertical integration of hospitals and providers. We summarize the evidence for the effects of the changes in health coverage on care and discuss areas for future research with the goal of informing efforts to improve cancer care delivery and outcomes in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Robin Yabroff
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
| | - Samuel Valdez
- Department of Economics, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Mireille Jacobson
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Xuesong Han
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
| | - A Mark Fendrick
- University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, Ann Arbor, MI
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Analyses of Employer Medical Claims Data to Assess Receipt of High-Priority Preventive Health Services. Am J Prev Med 2020; 58:715-723. [PMID: 32173164 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Affordable Care Act mandated that health plans cover preventive health services without patient cost sharing. A process, based on the analyses of medical claims data, is presented that allows companies to assess whether their healthcare plans are providing employees and dependents with age- and sex-appropriate high-priority preventive healthcare services. METHODS High-priority preventive healthcare services are defined as, a physical examination; type 2 diabetes screening; blood lipid screening; cervical, breast, and colon cancer screening; and osteoporosis screening. Current Procedural Terminology codes reflecting billing for these screening services were identified. Receipt of these age- and sex-appropriate services in rolling 3-year windows from 2010 to 2016 was assessed in 86,895,424 person-years of medical claims data from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database and the Medicare Supplemental and Coordination of Benefit Database. Data were analyzed in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS In the 2014-2016 period, 29% of men and 36% of women received the complete set of age- and sex-appropriate preventive health services, whereas 33% of men and 13% of women received none of these services. CONCLUSIONS Only a minority of individuals received a complete set of the defined high-priority preventive healthcare services. The process presented here allows employers to routinely analyze their medical claims data to assess the performance of their health and wellness plans in delivering these preventive services. The strengths and weaknesses of this approach are also described.
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Zhao J, Mao Z, Fedewa SA, Nogueira L, Yabroff KR, Jemal A, Han X. The Affordable Care Act and access to care across the cancer control continuum: A review at 10 years. CA Cancer J Clin 2020; 70:165-181. [PMID: 32202312 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Lack of health insurance coverage is strongly associated with poor cancer outcomes in the United States. The uninsured are less likely to have access to timely and effective cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care than their counterparts with health insurance coverage. On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, representing the largest change to health care delivery in the United States since the introduction of the Medicare and Medicaid programs in 1965. The primary goals of the ACA are to improve health insurance coverage, the quality of care, and patient outcomes, and to maintain or lower costs by catalyzing changes in the health care delivery system. In this review, we describe the main components of the ACA, including health insurance expansions, coverage reforms, and delivery system reforms, provisions within these components, and their relevance to cancer screening and early detection, care, and outcomes. We then highlight selected, well-designed studies examining the effects of the ACA provisions on coverage, access to cancer care, and disparities throughout the cancer control continuum. Finally, we identify research gaps to inform evaluation of current and emerging health policies related to cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Zhao
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ziling Mao
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Stacey A Fedewa
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Leticia Nogueira
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - K Robin Yabroff
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Xuesong Han
- Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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Xu MR, Kelly AMB, Kushi LH, Reed ME, Koh HK, Spiegelman D. Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Colorectal Cancer Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Am J Prev Med 2020; 58:596-603. [PMID: 32008799 PMCID: PMC7175922 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act increases healthcare access and includes provisions that directly impact access to and cost of evidence-based colorectal cancer screening. The Affordable Care Act's removal of cost sharing for colorectal cancer screening as well as Medicaid expansion have been hypothesized to increase screening and improve other health outcomes. However, since its passage in 2010, there is little consensus on the Affordable Care Act's impact. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Data from March 2010 to June 2019 were reviewed and 21 relevant studies were identified; 19 studies examined colorectal cancer screening with most finding increased screening rates. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Eleven studies found significant increases, 5 found nonsignificant increases, 3 found nonsignificant decreases, and 1 study found a significant decrease in colorectal cancer screening. Three studies examined the impact on colorectal cancer incidence and stage of diagnosis, where a significant 2.4% increase in early diagnosis was found in one and a nonsignificant increase in incidence in another. However, survival improved after Medicaid expansion. CONCLUSIONS Free preventive colorectal cancer screening and Medicaid expansion because of passage of the Affordable Care Act have been, in general, positively associated with modest improvements in screening rates across the country. Future studies are needed that investigate the longer-term impact of the Affordable Care Act on colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality rates, as screening is only the first step in treatment of cancerous and precancerous lesions, preventing them from progressing. Moreover, more studies examining subpopulations are needed to better assess where gaps in care remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R Xu
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
| | - Amanda M B Kelly
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lawrence H Kushi
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Oakland, California
| | - Mary E Reed
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Oakland, California
| | - Howard K Koh
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Donna Spiegelman
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
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Mbah OM, Kinlaw AC, Trogdon JG, Wheeler SB, Samuel CA. The Affordable Care Act and Ethnic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening. Am J Prev Med 2020; 58:175-181. [PMID: 31959320 PMCID: PMC8285085 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cost sharing can deter the use of health services and act as a potential contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in cancer. The Affordable Care Act required most health plans to cover, without cost sharing, preventive services, including colorectal cancer screening. Population-based data were used to estimate the impact of the Affordable Care Act's cost-sharing provision (together with other Affordable Care Act provisions targeting preventive care) on ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening, comparing Hispanics with non-Hispanics. METHODS An interrupted time series quasi-experimental analysis was used to examine ethnic differences in colorectal cancer screening pre- and post-implementation of the Affordable Care Act (analysis performed in 2018). The study cohort included insured individuals aged 50-64 years who participated in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2007 through 2015 (n=44,343). RESULTS During the pre-Affordable Care Act period, screening rates decreased annually for non-Hispanics by -0.38 per 100 adults per year (95% CI= -0.55, -0.22) but remained level for Hispanics (annual trend per 100 adults: 0.01, 95% CI= -0.34, 0.35). After cost sharing was eliminated in 2011, colorectal cancer screening rates increased for both Hispanics (by 1.29 per 100 adults, 95% CI=0.69, 1.89) and non-Hispanics (by 0.58 per 100 adults, 95% CI=0.18, 0.99). The difference in trend increases between Hispanics and non-Hispanics was not statistically significant (0.70%, 95% CI= -0.24, 1.64). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that Affordable Care Act implementation resulted in increased colorectal cancer screening; however, the effect of the law was not significantly different between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. These results provide indications that more needs to be done to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olive M Mbah
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Alan C Kinlaw
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Justin G Trogdon
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Stephanie B Wheeler
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Cleo A Samuel
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Effects of the Affordable Care Act on the Receipt of Colonoscopies among the Insured Elderly. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17010313. [PMID: 31906426 PMCID: PMC6981636 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) waived deductibles and eliminated coinsurance for colonoscopies for Medicare beneficiaries beginning in January 1, 2011. This study investigated the effect of the ACA’s directive to remove the financial barriers on the receipt of colonoscopies among the elderly insured, who are predominantly covered by Medicare. Methods: Data from the 2008–2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to examine the receipt of colonoscopies in two years prior to the implementation of the ACA (2008 and 2010) and three years after the change (2012, 2014, and 2016). Multivariate logistic regressions were estimated to examine the change in colonoscopy use before and after the introduction of the ACA, adjusting for patient characteristics and availability of health care providers in the geographic region. Results: Of 349,899 eligible elderly insured in the age group 65 to 75 years, 236,275 (67.2%) had received a colonoscopy in the previous ten years. The receipt of colonoscopies increased from 63.5% in pre-ACA years to 69.2% in the post-ACA years (p < 0.001). Compared with the pre-ACA period, the odds ratio of colonoscopy uptake in post-ACA years was 1.15 (95% CI = 1.08–1.22). Conclusions: A statistically significant increase in colonoscopy use was observed in the post-ACA years. However, achieving the target coverage rate of 80% will require additional interventions to encourage higher levels of screenings.
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Kaminski MF, Robertson DJ, Senore C, Rex DK. Optimizing the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening Worldwide. Gastroenterology 2020; 158:404-417. [PMID: 31759062 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Screening, followed by colonoscopic polypectomy (or surgery for malignant lesions), prevents incident colorectal cancer and mortality. However, there are variations in effective application of nearly every aspect of the screening process. Screening is a multistep process, and failure in any single step could result in unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Awareness of variations in operator- and system-dependent performance has led to detailed, comprehensive recommendations in the United States and Europe on how colonoscopy screening should be performed and measured. Likewise, guidance has been provided on quality assurance for nonprimary colonoscopy-based screening programs, including strategies to maximize adherence. Quality improvement is now a validated science, and there is clear evidence that higher quality prevents incident cancer and cancer death. Quality must be addressed at the levels of the system, provider, and individuals, to maximize the benefits of screening for any population. We review the important aspects of measuring and improving the quality of colorectal cancer screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Kaminski
- Department of Gastroenterological Oncology, the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Oncology, Medical Center for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland; Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Douglas J Robertson
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont; The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and The Dartmouth Institute, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Carlo Senore
- Epidemiology and Screening Unit-CPO, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Douglas K Rex
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Adamson AS, Pignone MP. Eliminating Copayments for Skin Cancer Screening—A Public Health Policy With Insufficient Evidence. JAMA Dermatol 2019; 155:1339-1340. [DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.2797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adewole S. Adamson
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | - Michael P. Pignone
- Department of Internal Medicine, LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin
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Haakenstad A, Hawkins SS, Pace LE, Cohen J. Rural-urban disparities in colonoscopies after the elimination of patient cost-sharing by the Affordable Care Act. Prev Med 2019; 129:105877. [PMID: 31669176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Improving the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer is a priority for reducing rural-urban disparities in colorectal cancer mortality. By eliminating out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for preventive colonoscopies, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have reduced rural-urban disparities in screening. METHODS We used the Maine Health Data Organization All-Payer Claims Database including all commercially-insured and Medicare beneficiaries aged 50-75 between 2009 and 2012. Rural-urban commuting areas were used to classify rural/urban residence. ICD-9 and CPT codes identified colonoscopies. We summed all OOP payments per patient-day. An interrupted time series model estimated the impact of the ACA on trends in rural-urban disparities in colonoscopy rates and OOP costs. RESULTS Before the ACA, colonoscopy rates were 16% lower in rural than urban areas (5.1% vs. 6.1% of enrollees annually) and median OOP costs were nearly double ($195 vs. $98). The ACA reduced median OOP payments by $94 (p = .001) initially and $4 monthly (p = .038) in rural areas, and $63 (p < .001) in urban areas. The rural-urban gap in OOP payments dropped by $4 monthly (p = .007). The ACA also reduced rural-urban disparities in colonoscopy rates (disparity decrease of 0.005 (6%) monthly, p < .001). The rural-urban gap in colonoscopy rates declined 40% relative to the pre-ACA period by December 2012. CONCLUSIONS The ACA was associated with significant reductions in rural-urban disparities in colonoscopies in Maine, suggesting that OOP costs are an important barrier for rural residents. Further research is needed to determine whether increased uptake, particularly in rural areas, translated into better patient outcomes for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Haakenstad
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States of America.
| | | | - Lydia E Pace
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States of America
| | - Jessica Cohen
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States of America
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Hong YR, Huo J, Desai R, Cardel M, Deshmukh AA. Excess Costs and Economic Burden of Obesity-Related Cancers in the United States. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2019; 22:1378-1386. [PMID: 31806194 PMCID: PMC7313233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a significant risk factor of several cancers that imposes a substantial economic burden on US healthcare that remains to be quantified. We estimated the excess costs and economic burden of obesity-related cancers in the United States. METHODS From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2008-2015) data, we identified 19 405 cancer survivors and 175 498 non-cancer individuals. We estimated annual health expenditures using generalized linear regression with log link and gamma distribution by cancer types (stratified by 11 obesity-related cancers and other cancer types), controlling for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. All cost estimates were adjusted to 2015 USD value. RESULTS The average annual total health expenditures were $21 503 (95% CI, $20 946-$22 061) for those with obesity-related cancer and $13 120 (95% CI, $12 920-$13 319) for those with other cancer types. There was a positive association between body mass index and health expenditures among cancer survivors: for each additional 5-unit increase in body mass index, the average predicted expenditures increase by $1503 among those with obesity-related cancer and by $722 among those with other cancers. With adjustments for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the mean incremental expenditures of treating obesity-related cancer were 2.1 times higher than those of other cancers ($4492 vs $2139) and more considerable among the non-elderly cancer population. Obesity-related cancers accounted for nearly 43.5% of total direct cancer care expenditures, estimated at $35.9 billion in 2015. CONCLUSION The economic burden of obesity-related cancer in the United States is substantial. Our findings suggest a need for the inclusion of comprehensive obesity prevention and treatment in cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Rock Hong
- Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, FL, USA.
| | - Jinhai Huo
- Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, FL, USA
| | - Raj Desai
- Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, FL, USA
| | - Michelle Cardel
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, FL, USA
| | - Ashish A Deshmukh
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas, USA
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Chido-Amajuoyi OG, Sharma A, Talluri R, Tami-Maury I, Shete S. Physician-office vs home uptake of colorectal cancer screening using FOBT/FIT among screening-eligible US adults. Cancer Med 2019; 8:7408-7418. [PMID: 31637870 PMCID: PMC6885889 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Guidelines of the American Cancer Society and US Preventive Services Task Force specify that colorectal cancer (CRC) screening using guaiac‐based fecal occult blood test (FOBT)/fecal immunochemical test (FIT) should be done at home. We therefore examined the prevalence and correlates of CRC screening using FOBT/FIT in physicians' office vs at home. Methods Analysis of 9493 respondents 50‐75 years old from the Cancer Control Supplement of the 2015 National Health Interview Survey was conducted. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of in‐office vs home use of FOBT/FIT for CRC screening. Results Of the overall sample of screening‐eligible adults (n = 9403), only 937 (10.4%) respondents underwent CRC screening using FOBT/FIT within the past year; among this screening population, 279 (28.3%) respondents were screened in‐office. We found that sociodemographic factors alone, not CRC risk factors, determined whether FOBT/FIT would be used in‐office or at home. Hispanics had greater odds of being screened in‐office using FOBT/FIT (aOR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.05‐3.99). Compared with those 50‐59 years old, respondents 70‐75 years old were less likely to be screened in‐office using FOBT/FIT (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25‐0.79). Similarly, individuals residing in the Western region of the country had lower odds of in‐office FOBT/FIT (aOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11‐0.58). Conclusion Amid low overall uptake rates of FOBT/FIT in the United States, in‐physician office testing is high, indicative of a missed opportunity for effective screening and poor adherence of physicians to national guidelines. Sociodemographic factors are determinants of uptake of FOBT/FIT at home or in‐office and should be considered in designing interventions aimed at providers and the general population. Amid low overall uptake rates of FOBT/FIT in the United States, in‐physician office testing is high, indicative of a missed opportunity for effective screening and poor adherence of physicians to national guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anushree Sharma
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rajesh Talluri
- Department of Data Science, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Irene Tami-Maury
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanjay Shete
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Khushalani JS, Ekwueme DU, Richards TB, Sabatino SA, Guy GP, Zhang Y, Tangka F. Utilization and Cost of Mammography Screening Among Commercially Insured Women 50 to 64 Years of Age in the United States, 2012-2016. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2019; 29:327-337. [PMID: 31613693 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In recent years, most insurance plans eliminated cost-sharing for breast cancer screening and recommended screening intervals changed, and newer modalities-digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis-became more widely available. The objectives of this study are to examine how these changes affected utilization, frequency, and costs of breast cancer screening among commercially insured women, and to understand factors associated with utilization and frequency of screening. Materials and Methods: This study used commercial insurance claims data for women 50 to 64 years of age, continuously enrolled in commercial insurance plans during 2012-2016. Results: Of the 685,737 eligible women, 20% were not screened, 40% received annual screening, 24% received biennial screening, and 16% were screened less frequently than recommended during the time period examined. Sociodemographic factors such as age <60 years, rurality, and fee-for-service insurance were associated with low screening utilization. Patients who received annual screening incurred ∼1.78 times higher costs compared to those who received biennial screening during the study period. Digital mammography was the most costly and commonly used modality along with computer-aided detection. Conclusions: Evidence-based interventions to promote screening among women who are screened less frequently are needed along with interventions to move toward biennial screening rather than annual screening. Increasing provider awareness regarding breast cancer screening rates and frequency among various sociodemographic groups is essential to guide provider recommendations and shared decision making. The results of this study can guide targeted public health interventions to reduce barriers to screening, and can also serve as inputs for economic analyses of screening interventions and programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya S Khushalani
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Donatus U Ekwueme
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Thomas B Richards
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Susan A Sabatino
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gery P Guy
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Yuanhui Zhang
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Florence Tangka
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Steenland M, Sinaiko A, Glynn A, Fitzgerald T, Cohen J. The effect of the Affordable Care Act on patient out-of-pocket cost and use of preventive cancer screenings in Massachusetts. Prev Med Rep 2019; 15:100924. [PMID: 31333996 PMCID: PMC6617340 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In an effort to increase use of preventive health care, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) eliminated cost-sharing for preventive cancer screening services for the privately insured. The impact on patient spending and use of these screenings is still poorly understood. We used an interrupted time series analysis with the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database (2009-2012) to assess changes in trends in costs and use of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings after the ACA policy. We find that the ACA was associated with a 0.024 (95% CI: -0.031, -0.017, p < 0.001) and 0.424 (95% CI: -0.481, -0.368, p < 0.001) percentage point decrease in the likelihood of a copayment each week for preventive breast and cervical cancer screenings respectively. The likelihood of copayment for colon cancer screening declined throughout the study period, with the rate of decline slowing following the ACA (trend in percent of screenings with copayment -0.130 before vs -0.071 after ACA, p = 0.014). Overall, we find only weak evidence that the ACA policy increased screenings. We find no significant effect on utilization for cervical cancer or colon cancer screening. For breast cancer screening, we find a small immediate increase in the utilization rate in the month after the policy change, with no change in trend after the ACA policy. Policy makers may need to consider other complementary policy options to increase screening rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Steenland
- Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University, 68 Waterman St, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Anna Sinaiko
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amy Glynn
- Commonwealth Care Alliance, 30 Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108, USA
| | | | - Jessica Cohen
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Bonafede MM, Miller JD, Pohlman SK, Troeger KA, Sprague BL, Herschorn SD, Winer IH. Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening: Patterns Among Women With Medicaid and Commercial Insurance. Am J Prev Med 2019; 57:394-402. [PMID: 31377088 PMCID: PMC7433028 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite healthcare reforms mandating expanded insurance coverage and reduced out-of-pocket costs for preventive care, cancer screening rates remain relatively static. No study has measured cancer screening rates for multiple tests among non-Medicare patients. METHODS This retrospective, population-based claims analysis, conducted in 2016-2017, of commercially insured and Medicaid-insured women aged 30-59 years enrolled in IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicaid Databases (containing approximately 90 and 17 million enrollees, respectively) during 2010-2015 describes screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Key outcomes were (1) proportion screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among the age-eligible population compared with accepted age-based recommendations and (2) proportion with longer-than-recommended intervals between tests. RESULTS One half (54.7%) of commercially insured women aged 40-59 years (n=1,538,444) were screened three or more times during the 6-year study period for breast cancer; for Medicaid-insured women (n=78,897), the rates were lower (23.7%). One third (43.4%) of commercially insured and two thirds (68.9%) of Medicaid-insured women had a >2.5-year gap between mammograms. Among women aged 30-59 years, 59.3% of commercially insured women and 31.4% of Medicaid-insured women received two or more Pap tests. The proportion of patients with a >3.5-year gap between Pap tests was 33.9% (commercially insured) and 57.1% (Medicaid-insured). Among women aged 50-59 years, 63.3% of commercially insured women and 47.2% of Medicaid-insured women were screened at least one time for colorectal cancer. Almost all women aged 30-59 years (commercially insured, 99.1%; Medicaid-insured, 98.9%) had at least one healthcare encounter. CONCLUSIONS Breast and cervical cancer screenings remain underutilized among both commercially insured and Medicaid-insured populations, with lower rates among the Medicaid-insured population. However, almost all women had at least one healthcare encounter, suggesting opportunities for better coordinated care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Scott K Pohlman
- Outcomes Research, Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts
| | | | - Brian L Sprague
- Department of Surgery, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Sally D Herschorn
- Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
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