Louisiana
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Yes
Highlighted Disparity
Latinos in Louisiana are least likely to receive surgical treatment.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 65 and significantly higher than the national rate of 58.
- Louisiana ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below 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 Louisiana is 19%, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 41st among the 45 states with survival data, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Louisiana improved by 21%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 22% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 43rd among the 49 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Louisiana improved by 33%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Louisiana ranked 41st (out of the 49 states with available data) with 17% 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 Louisiana in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Louisiana did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Louisiana ranked 39th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 24% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 21% and puts Louisiana in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Louisiana did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Louisiana, 3% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 40th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Louisiana was one of the 40 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of September 2021.
- In addition, their program used recommended guidelines for determining eligibility and did not require prior authorization or cost sharing.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Louisiana is 22% and significantly higher than the national rate of 15%.
- It ranks 48th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Radon:
- In Louisiana, 3% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 2nd among all states, placing it in the top tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 67 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Louisiana, significantly higher than the rate of 60 among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 66 among whites in Louisiana.
- The five-year survival rate is 17% among Black Americans in Louisiana, significantly lower than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 20% among whites in Louisiana.
- 20% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black Americans in Louisiana, significantly lower than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 23% among whites in Louisiana.
- 14% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Louisiana underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 17% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 18% among whites in Louisiana.
- 24% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Louisiana did not receive any treatment, significantly higher than the rate of 23% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 24% among whites in Louisiana.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 27 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Louisiana, not significantly different than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 66 among whites in Louisiana.
- 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.
- 17% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latinos in Louisiana, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23% among whites in Louisiana.
- 12% of Latinos with lung cancer in Louisiana underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 21% among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 18% among whites in Louisiana.
- 24% of Latinos with lung cancer in Louisiana did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 26% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 24% among whites in Louisiana.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 40 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Louisiana, not significantly different than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 66 among whites in Louisiana.
- 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.
- 16% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Louisiana, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23% among whites in Louisiana.
- 23% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in Louisiana 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 18% among whites in Louisiana.
- 20% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in Louisiana 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 24% among whites in Louisiana.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 21 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Louisiana, significantly lower than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 66 among whites in Louisiana.
- 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.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Louisiana due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
The early diagnosis rate in Louisiana falls into the below 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.
Louisiana 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.
It is alarming that Louisiana falls into the below 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.