Utah
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered
Highlighted Disparity
No racial disparities were found in Utah for these lung cancer metrics.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 25.2 and significantly lower than the national rate of 54.6.
- Utah ranks 1st among all states, placing it in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Utah improved by 23%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Utah is 26.8%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 18th among the 42 states with survival data, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Utah improved by 25%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 25.6% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 34th 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 Utah did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Utah ranked 9th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 23.4% 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 Utah in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Utah did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Utah ranked 35th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 22.1% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is not significantly different than the national rate of 20.6% and puts Utah in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Utah did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Utah, 1.8% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 4.5%.
- It ranks 44th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Actual screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Utah was one of the 49 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of October 2023.
- While their program did not require prior authorization or copays, it did not use recommended guidelines for determining eligibility.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Utah is 7.2% and significantly lower than the national rate of 13.5%.
- It ranks 1st among all states, placing it in the top tier.
Radon:
- In Utah, 40.6% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 41st among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 36.4 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in Utah, significantly lower than the rate of 56.3 among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.1 among white individuals in Utah.
- The five-year survival rate is 26.3% among Black individuals in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 23.8% among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 26.5% among white individuals in Utah.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Black individuals in Utah due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 27.0 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 28.2 among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.1 among white individuals in Utah.
- 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.
- 21.4% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 23.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.9% among white individuals in Utah.
- 25.2% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Utah underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 21.6% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23.6% among white individuals in Utah.
- 21.0% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in Utah 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 22.2% among white individuals in Utah.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 26.2 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in Utah, significantly lower than the rate of 32.9 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.1 among white individuals in Utah.
- 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.
- 25.2% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 22.8% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.9% among white individuals in Utah.
- 20.4% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Utah did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 20.2% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 22.2% among white individuals in Utah.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Utah due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 24.6 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Utah, significantly lower than the rate of 39.4 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 25.1 among white individuals in Utah.
- 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 Utah due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Utah 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 the latest guidelines across all fee-for-service and managed care plans without any financial or administrative barriers in their Medicaid programs.
Utah 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.