New Mexico
Requires Coverage of Comprehensive Biomarker Testing
Yes
Highlighted Disparity
Indigenous Peoples in New Mexico are most likely to receive no treatment.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 32.9 and significantly lower than the national rate of 53.6.
- New Mexico ranks 2nd among all states, placing it in the top 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 New Mexico is 23.9%, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 28.4%.
- It ranks 42nd among the 47 states with survival data, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in New Mexico improved by 16%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 23.1% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 27.4%.
- It ranks 45th among the 47 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in New Mexico improved by 48%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Biomarker Coverage:
- New Mexico was one of the 15 states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, including for lung cancer, as of September 2024.
Surgical Treatment:
- New Mexico ranked 47th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 13.0% 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 New Mexico in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in New Mexico did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- New Mexico ranked 46th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 33.0% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.9% and puts New Mexico in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in New Mexico did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In New Mexico, 9.1% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 16.0%.
- It ranks 49th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in New Mexico is 15.0% and not significantly different than the national rate of 12.9%.
- It ranks 33rd among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon:
- In New Mexico, 24.8% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 27th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 38.3 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in New Mexico, significantly lower than the rate of 55.1 among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 38.7 among white individuals in New Mexico.
- The five-year survival rate is 26.3% among Black individuals in New Mexico, not significantly different than the rate of 25.5% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23.7% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 25.3% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in New Mexico, not significantly different than the rate of 24.1% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 24.9% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 31.0% of Black individuals with lung cancer in New Mexico did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 22.7% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 32.7% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Black individuals in New Mexico due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 27.6 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in New Mexico, not significantly different than the rate of 28.1 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 38.7 among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 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.
- 20.0% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in New Mexico, significantly lower than the rate of 23.5% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 24.9% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 11.9% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New Mexico underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 21.3% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 13.6% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 33.1% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New Mexico did not receive any treatment, significantly higher than the rate of 26.3% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 32.7% among white individuals in New Mexico.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 28.9 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in New Mexico, not significantly different than the rate of 32.5 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 38.7 among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 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.
- 33.8% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in New Mexico did not receive any treatment, significantly higher than the rate of 20.1% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 32.7% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in New Mexico due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 12.3 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New Mexico, significantly lower than the rate of 39.9 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 38.7 among white individuals in New Mexico.
- 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.
- 46.6% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in New Mexico did not receive any treatment, significantly higher than the rate of 24.3% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 32.7% among white individuals in New Mexico.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New Mexico due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
The early diagnosis rate in New Mexico falls into the bottom 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.
New Mexico was one of the states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help determine what treatment options would be best for individuals with lung cancer and other diseases.
It is alarming that New Mexico falls into the bottom 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.
Page last updated: November 12, 2024