Wyoming
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered
Highlighted Disparity
No racial disparities were found in Wyoming for these lung cancer metrics.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 40.7 and significantly lower than the national rate of 54.6.
- Wyoming ranks 5th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Wyoming improved by 21%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Wyoming is 23.0%, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 34th among the 42 states with survival data, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Wyoming did not change significantly.
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 Wyoming did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Wyoming ranked 44th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 15.6% 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 Wyoming in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Wyoming did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Wyoming ranked 31st (out of the 47 states with available data) with 21.0% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is not significantly different than the national rate of 20.6% and puts Wyoming in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Wyoming did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Wyoming, 1.0% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 4.5%.
- It ranks 50th 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:
- Wyoming 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 Wyoming is 16.4% and significantly higher than the national rate of 13.5%.
- It ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon:
- In Wyoming, 44.5% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 43rd among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Individuals:
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Black individuals in Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 35.6 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Wyoming, not significantly different than the rate of 28.2 among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 41.3 among white individuals in Wyoming.
- 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.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Latino individuals in Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 40.9 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Wyoming, not significantly different than the rate of 39.4 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 41.3 among white individuals in Wyoming.
- 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 Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Wyoming 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.
Wyoming 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.