Wyoming
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
No
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 42 and significantly lower than the national rate of 58.
- Wyoming ranks 5th among all states, placing it in the above average 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 Wyoming is 22%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 29th among the 45 states with survival data, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Wyoming did not change significantly.
Early Diagnosis:
- 28% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 24%.
- It ranks 3rd among the 49 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the top tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Wyoming did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Wyoming ranked 48th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 15% 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 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 41st (out of the 49 states with available data) with 25% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 21% and puts Wyoming in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Wyoming improved by 39%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Wyoming, 1% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 50th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Wyoming 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 Wyoming is 18% and significantly higher than the national rate of 15%.
- It ranks 37th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon:
- In Wyoming, 45% 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 Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 37 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Wyoming, not significantly different than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 43 among whites in Wyoming.
- 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.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Latino Americans in Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino Americans:
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Wyoming due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 44 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Wyoming, not significantly different than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 43 among whites 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 19%, 11% lower than among white Americans.
- 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.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 44 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Wyoming, not significantly different than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 43 among whites 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 19%, 11% lower than among white Americans.
- 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 top 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 Wyoming 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.