Idaho
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered and Using Updated Guidelines
Highlighted Disparity
No racial disparities were found in Idaho for these lung cancer metrics.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 46.2 and significantly lower than the national rate of 54.6.
- Idaho ranks 9th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases improved by 19%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Idaho is 26.1%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 20th among the 42 states with survival data, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Idaho improved by 26%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 27.9% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 15th among the 47 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 Idaho did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Idaho ranked 31st (out of the 47 states with available data) with 18.5% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 20.8% and puts Idaho in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Idaho did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Idaho ranked 39th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 23.7% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.6% and puts Idaho in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Idaho did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Idaho, 2.9% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 4.5%.
- It ranks 36th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
- Actual screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Idaho was one of the 49 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of October 2023.
- While their program used recommended guidelines for determining eligibility and did not require copays, it did require prior authorization.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Idaho is 13.3% and not significantly different than the national rate of 13.5%.
- It ranks 20th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Radon:
- In Idaho, 33.3% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 33rd among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 71.3 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in Idaho, not significantly different than the rate of 56.3 among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 46.9 among white individuals in Idaho.
- Survival rates by race and ethnicity are not available for Idaho at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Black individuals is 23.8%, 11% lower than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Black individuals in Idaho due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 32.4 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Idaho, not significantly different than the rate of 28.2 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 46.9 among white individuals in Idaho.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino individuals is 22.7%, not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 24.0% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in Idaho, not significantly different than the rate of 23.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 28.1% among white individuals in Idaho.
- 17.8% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Idaho underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 21.6% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 18.5% among white individuals in Idaho.
- 20.5% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Idaho did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 26.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23.8% among white individuals in Idaho.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 35.4 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in Idaho, not significantly different than the rate of 32.9 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 46.9 among white individuals in Idaho.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals is 28.6% and significantly higher than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Idaho due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 50.7 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Idaho, not significantly different than the rate of 39.4 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 46.9 among white individuals in Idaho.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 22.3% and not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Idaho due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Idaho 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.
Idaho has improved access to expanded screening by covering it through its fee-for-service Medicaid program. The Lung Association encourages all states to cover lung cancer screening based on the latest guidelines across all fee-for-service and managed care plans without any financial or administrative barriers in their Medicaid programs.
It is alarming that Idaho falls into the below average tier for percent of patients receiving no 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.