Utah
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
No
Highlighted Disparity
Black Americans in Utah are most likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 26 and significantly lower than the national rate of 58.
- Utah ranks 1st among all states, placing it in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases did not change significantly.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Utah is 24%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 17th among the 45 states with survival data, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Utah improved by 22%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 23% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 41st 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 Utah did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Utah ranked 9th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 23% 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 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 38th (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 Utah in the below 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, 2% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 47th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Utah was one of the 7 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs did not cover lung cancer screening as of September 2021.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Utah is 8% and significantly lower than the national rate of 15%.
- It ranks 1st among all states, placing it in the top tier.
Radon:
- In Utah, 41% 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 52 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 60 among Black Americans nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 26 among whites in Utah.
- The five-year survival rate is 17% among Black Americans in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 24% among whites in Utah.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Black Americans 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 26 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 26 among whites in Utah.
- 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.
- 19% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latinos in Utah, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23% among whites in Utah.
- 21% of Latinos with lung cancer in Utah underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 23% among whites in Utah.
- 22% of Latinos with lung cancer in Utah 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 Utah.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 26 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Utah, significantly lower than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 26 among whites in Utah.
- 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.
- 26% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Utah, 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 Utah.
- 23% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in Utah 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 23% among whites in Utah.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Utah due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- 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
The early diagnosis rate in Utah 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.
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 Utah 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.