Colorado
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Yes
Highlighted Disparity
Latino Americans in Colorado are least likely to be diagnosed early.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 41 and significantly lower than the national rate of 58.
- Colorado ranks 4th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases improved by 13%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Colorado is 27%, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 6th among the 45 states with survival data, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Colorado improved by 16%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 27% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 6th among the 49 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Colorado improved by 53%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Colorado ranked 14th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 22% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.7% and puts Colorado in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Colorado improved by 24%.
Lack of Treatment:
- Colorado ranked 21st (out of the 49 states with available data) with 19% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21% and puts Colorado in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Colorado improved by 24%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Colorado, 3% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Colorado was one of the 40 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of September 2021.
- While their program used recommended guidelines for determining eligibility and did not require cost sharing, it did require prior authorization.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Colorado is 14% and significantly lower than the national rate of 15%.
- It ranks 11th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Radon:
- In Colorado, 46% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 45th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 42 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Colorado, significantly lower than the rate of 60 among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 41 among whites in Colorado.
- The five-year survival rate is 23% among Black Americans in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 27% among whites in Colorado.
- 29% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black Americans in Colorado, significantly higher than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 28% among whites in Colorado.
- 23% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Colorado underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 17% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 22% among whites in Colorado.
- 19% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Colorado did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 23% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 19% among whites in Colorado.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 35 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Colorado, significantly higher than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 41 among whites in Colorado.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino Americans at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino Americans is 19%, 13% lower than among white Americans.
- 23% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latinos in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 28% among whites in Colorado.
- 19% of Latinos with lung cancer in Colorado underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 21% among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 22% among whites in Colorado.
- 22% of Latinos with lung cancer in Colorado did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 26% among Latinos nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 19% among whites in Colorado.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 34 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 41 among whites in Colorado.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders is 23%, 8% higher than among white Americans.
- 22% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 28% among whites in Colorado.
- 24% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in Colorado underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 24% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 22% among whites in Colorado.
- 17% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in Colorado did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 19% among whites in Colorado.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 32 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 41 among whites in Colorado.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 19%, 11% lower than among white Americans.
- 24% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Colorado, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 28% among whites in Colorado.
- 23% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in Colorado underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 17% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 22% among whites in Colorado.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Colorado due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Colorado falling into the above 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.
Colorado has improved access to screening by covering it through its fee-for-service Medicaid program. The Lung Association encourages all states to cover lung cancer screening based on recommended guidelines across all fee-for-service and managed care plans without any financial or administrative barriers in their Medicaid programs.
Colorado falls into the above average tier for percent of patients not receiving any 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.