New York
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered and Using Updated Guidelines
Highlighted Disparity
Black individuals in New York are least likely to be diagnosed early.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 55.9 and significantly higher than the national rate of 54.6.
- New York ranks 23rd among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases improved by 17%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in New York is 32.1%, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 3rd among the 42 states with survival data, placing it in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in New York improved by 22%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 31.0% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 4th among the 47 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in New York improved by 11%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- New York ranked 2nd (out of the 47 states with available data) with 29.3% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.8% and puts New York in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in New York did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- New York ranked 24th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 19.4% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 20.6% and puts New York in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in New York improved by 7%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In New York, 4.9% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 4.5%.
- It ranks 26th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Actual screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- New York 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, it did require prior authorization and copays.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in New York is 12.0% and significantly lower than the national rate of 13.5%.
- It ranks 12th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Radon:
- In New York, 13.9% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 15th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 45.8 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in New York, significantly lower than the rate of 56.3 among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 63.0 among white individuals in New York.
- The five-year survival rate is 26.7% among Black individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 23.8% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 32.1% among white individuals in New York.
- 24.5% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 23.2% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 32.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 24.4% of Black individuals with lung cancer in New York underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 17.0% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 22.8% of Black individuals with lung cancer in New York did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 22.4% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 19.0% among white individuals in New York.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 33.8 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 28.2 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 63.0 among white individuals in New York. 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.
- 27.4% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 23.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 32.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 27.5% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New York underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 21.6% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 21.6% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New York did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 26.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 19.0% among white individuals in New York.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 43.6 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 32.9 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 63.0 among white individuals in New York.
- 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.
- 32.1% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in New York, significantly higher than the rate of 22.8% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 32.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 41.8% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in New York underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 24.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 15.7% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in New York did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 20.2% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 19.0% among white individuals in New York.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 15.2 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New York, significantly lower than the rate of 39.4 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 63.0 among white individuals in New York.
- 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.
- 26.8% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New York, not significantly different than the rate of 23.5% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 32.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 24.2% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in New York underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 16.3% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New York.
- 20.8% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in New York did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 23.2% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 19.0% among white individuals in New York.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in New York falling into the top 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 York 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.
New York falls into the 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.