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Cancer

Cancer Screening Rates Among Older Medicaid Enrollees Affected by Provider and Organizational Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cancer screening rates among older Medicaid enrollees in New Jersey have been significantly impacted by provider and organizational factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to recent research, higher patient panel sizes and obstetrician-gynecologist providers have been associated with increased screening rates for breast, cervical, and lung cancers. Additionally, female providers have improved screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among female enrollees. However, provider age has been unrelated to breast, cervical, or colorectal screening, except for lung cancer screening, which was 23% lower for patients of clinicians aged 62 and above in 2021.

Key Takeaways:

  • Higher patient panel sizes were consistently associated with increased screening for breast (20.4%), cervical (24.1%), and lung cancer (63.1%) during the pandemic.
  • Obstetrician-gynecologist providers were linked to higher screening rates for breast (50.6%) and cervical cancers (70.5%) even during the pandemic.
  • Female providers improved screening rates for breast (7.6%), cervical (3.8%), and colorectal cancer (5.8%) among female enrollees.
  • Large group practices effectively maintained breast and cervical cancer screening during the pandemic while exhibiting mixed results for colorectal and lung cancers.
  • Provider characteristics such as gender and specialty significantly impacted screening rates.
  • Supporting large practices and addressing barriers in smaller practices are key to improving cancer prevention, especially during crises.

Statistics:

  • 110,882: Number of Medicaid enrollees aged 50-75 in the pre-pandemic cohort.
  • 107,451: Number of Medicaid enrollees aged 50-75 in the pandemic cohort.
  • 2018/2019: Pre-pandemic period studied.
  • 2020/2021: Pandemic period studied.
  • 20.4%: Increased screening rate for breast cancer associated with higher patient panel sizes.
  • 24.1%: Increased screening rate for cervical cancer associated with higher patient panel sizes.
  • 63.1%: Increased screening rate for lung cancer associated with higher patient panel sizes.
  • 50.6%: Screening rate for breast cancer associated with obstetrician-gynecologist providers.
  • 70.5%: Screening rate for cervical cancer associated with obstetrician-gynecologist providers.
  • 7.6%: Increased screening rate for breast cancer associated with female providers.
  • 3.8%: Increased screening rate for cervical cancer associated with female providers.
  • 5.8%: Increased screening rate for colorectal cancer associated with female providers.
  • 23%: Decreased lung cancer screening rate for patients of clinicians aged 62 and above in 2021.

Sources:

  • "Provider and Organizational Factors Impacting Routine Cancer Screening Among Older Medicaid Enrollees." Health Services Research, 2025. Health Services Research can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; Health Services Research - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-6773)
  • NewsRx. "Studies from Rutgers University - The State University of New Jersey Update Current Data on Cancer (Provider and Organizational Factors Impacting Routine Cancer Screening Among Older Medicaid Enrollees)." Managed Care Weekly Digest, September 15, 2025.

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