In states with higher Medicaid payments for office visits, beneficiaries were more likely to be screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, according to a study published online in the journal Cancer.
The findings may help policymakers address barriers to access to care and improve the use of recommended cancer screening services, noted lead author Dr. Michael Halpern, PhD, of RTI International, and colleagues (Cancer, August 25, 2014).
The researchers analyzed 2007 Medicaid data from 46 states and Washington, DC. In states with higher payments for office visits, Medicaid beneficiaries were more likely to receive recommended screenings for early detection of all three types of cancer. However, higher payments for cancer screening tests, such as colonoscopy, mammography, and Pap tests, were not always associated with a greater number of screenings.
The link between higher Medicaid reimbursement for office visits and increased likelihood of receiving cancer screenings may reflect barriers in access to primary care physicians and other providers for Medicaid enrollees in states with lower reimbursements, the team concluded.
