Mississippi
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered
Highlighted Disparity
Black Americans in Mississippi are least likely to receive surgical treatment.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 73 and significantly higher than the national rate of 57.
- Mississippi ranks 47th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Mississippi improved by 9%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Mississippi is 20%, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 25%.
- It ranks 42nd among the 46 states with survival data, placing it in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Mississippi improved by 22%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 26% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 26%.
- It ranks 30th among the 49 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 Mississippi improved by 16%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Mississippi ranked 42nd (out of the 49 states with available data) with 16% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21% and puts Mississippi in the bottom tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Mississippi did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Mississippi ranked 29th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 21% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is not significantly different than the national rate of 21% and puts Mississippi in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Mississippi improved by 13%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Mississippi, 5% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 33rd among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Mississippi was one of the 46 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of July 2022.
- While their program did not require copays, they have not shown that it uses the latest recommended guidelines for determining eligibility and it did require prior authorization.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Mississippi is 20% and significantly higher than the national rate of 14%.
- It ranks 48th among all states, placing it in the bottom tier.
Radon:
- In Mississippi, 5% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 3rdamong all states, placing it in the top tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 70 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Mississippi, significantly higher than the rate of 59 among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 76 among whites in Mississippi.
- The five-year survival rate is 17% among Black Americans in Mississippi, significantly lower than the rate of 22% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 22% among whites in Mississippi.
- 23% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black Americans in Mississippi, not significantly different than the rate of 23% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 27% among whites in Mississippi.
- 13% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Mississippi underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 17% among Black Americans nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 18% among whites in Mississippi.
- 21% of Black Americans with lung cancer in Mississippi did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 20% among whites in Mississippi.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 25 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Mississippi, not significantly different than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 76 among whites in Mississippi.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino Americans at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino Americans is 19%, 25% lower than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Latino Americans in Mississippi 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 46 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Mississippi, not significantly different than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 76 among whites in Mississippi.
- 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% and not significantly different than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Mississippi 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 Mississippi due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in Mississippi 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.
Mississippi 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.