PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — New research unveiled in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN) highlights significant benefits of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act for patients diagnosed with a specific aggressive form of breast cancer. The study focused on individuals with hormone receptor (HR)-negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, revealing enhanced treatment timeliness and survival rates in states that adopted Medicaid expansion.
The research, led by the American Cancer Society, utilized data from the National Cancer Database covering patients aged 18-62 diagnosed between 2010 and 2018. Results showed that of the 31,401 patients, those in expansion states exhibited a two-year survival rate improvement from 93.9% to 95.0%. In contrast, non-expansion states saw a slight decline from 94.0% to 93.9%. The disparity was most pronounced in patients with Stage III cancer.
“Expanding Medicaid to the 10 states that have yet to do so can help ensure that more patients with cancer benefit from life-saving treatments,” emphasized Kewei Sylvia Shi, MPH, from the American Cancer Society. She stressed the importance of expanding access to oncology services and health insurance for better treatment adherence and outcomes.
HR-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer, comprising about 5% of all breast cancer cases, is notably aggressive. This study is the first to assess the impact of Medicaid expansion on this subgroup. Findings indicated that patients in expansion states were more likely to start guideline-concordant treatment within 90 days of diagnosis.
Millicent Gorham, CEO of the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention, remarked on the study’s implications, stating, “This study reinforces the important role Medicaid expansion plays in ensuring that women newly diagnosed with HR-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer have equitable access to the healthcare services they need.”
As breast cancer incidence rises, particularly among younger women, the study underscores the necessity for policymakers to prioritize access to preventive health screenings and timely treatments. The full study is accessible online at JNCCN.org, and will also appear in the journal’s November 2024 print edition.
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