The Impact of Medicare Health Insurance Coverage on Lung Cancer Screening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Annual lung cancer screening via low-dose computed tomography can reduce lung cancer mortality among high-risk adults by 20%; however, screening take-up remains low. Inadequate insurance coverage or access to care may be a barrier to screening.

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of nearly universal access to Medicare coverage on annual lung cancer screening.

Research design

A regression discontinuity design was used to estimate the causal effect of nearly universal access to Medicare at age 65. Data come from the 2017 to 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 28 states that adopted the optional module on lung cancer screening and lung cancer risk.

Subjects

A total of 11,163 individuals at high risk for lung c

SUBMITTER: Sun J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8663516 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature