Increase in cancer screening may be result of ACA provision

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published online in the journal Cancer, researchers from the American Cancer Society have found that colorectal cancer screening increased in individuals of lower socioeconomic status after 2008, potentially as a result of a provision in the Affordable Care Act that removed financial barriers to preventive services, including breast and colorectal cancer screening.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey to compare breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening prevalence among individuals with private and Medicare insurance by socioeconomic status before and after the Affordable Care Act was enacted.

Results showed that colorectal cancer screening increased from 57.3% to 61.2% between 2008 and 2013. The increase in screening prevalence was apparent in least-educated, low-income, and Medicare-insured patients, but not among those in higher socioeconomic groups.

The researchers also found a significant increase in colorectal cancer screening among Medicare-insured and privately insured individuals across all socioeconomic levels.

There was no increase in breast cancer screening between 2008 and 2013, possibly due to fewer barriers because of lower cost, women's health initiatives, and the already higher prevalence of breast cancer screening prevalence compared with colorectal cancer screening.