Arkansas
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Not Available
Highlighted Disparity
Black Americans in Arkansas are least likely to receive surgical treatment.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 77 and significantly higher than the national rate of 58.
- Arkansas ranks 49th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases did not change significantly.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Arkansas is 21%, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 37th among the 45 states with survival data, placing it in the below average tier.
- The change in the survival rate over the last five years is not available for Arkansas.
Early Diagnosis:
- 25% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 23rd among the 49 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Arkansas improved by 25%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Arkansas ranked 42nd (out of the 49 states with available data) with 17% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 20.7% and puts Arkansas in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Arkansas did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Arkansas ranked 16th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 19% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21% and puts Arkansas in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Arkansas improved by 42%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Arkansas, 4% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Arkansas was one of the 3 states with no information available on whether their Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of September 2021.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Arkandas is 20% and significantly higher than the national rate of 15%.
- It ranks 44th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon:
- In Arkansas, 20% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 20th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 76 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Arkansas, significantly higher than the rate of 60 among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 78 among whites in Arkansas.
- The five-year survival rate is 16% among Black Americans in Arkansas, significantly lower than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 22% among whites in Arkansas.
- 21% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black Americans in Arkansas, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 25% among whites in Arkansas.
- 13% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Arkansas underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 17% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 17% among whites in Arkansas.
20% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Arkansas did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 23% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 19% among whites in Arkansas.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 43 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Arkansas, significantly higher than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 78 among whites in Arkansas.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino Americans at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino Americans is 19%, 13% lower than among white Americans.
- 21% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latinos in Arkansas, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25% among whites in Arkansas.
21% of Latinos with lung cancer in Arkansas underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 17% among whites in Arkansas.
15% of Latinos with lung cancer in Arkansas did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 26% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 19% among whites in Arkansas.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 48 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Arkansas, significantly higher than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 78 among whites in Arkansas.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders is 23%, 8% higher than among white Americans.
- 22% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Arkansas, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25% among whites in Arkansas.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Arkansas due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 53 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Arkansas, not significantly different than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 78 among whites in Arkansas.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 19%, 11% lower than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Arkansas due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Arkansas falling into the average tier, the state still has a lot of work to do to make sure that more of those at high risk for lung cancer are screened.
The Lung Association encourages all states to cover lung cancer screening based on recommended guidelines across all fee-for-service and managed care plans without any financial or administrative barriers in their Medicaid programs.
Arkansas falls into the above average tier for percent of patients not receiving any treatment. Some patients do refuse treatment, but issues such as fatalism and stigma can prevent eligible patients from accessing treatment that may save or extend their lives. All patients should work with their doctors to establish a treatment plan and goals.