Medicaid Populations and Colorectal Cancer
The unfortunate truth persists that socioeconomic factors are a major indicator of quality of life and health outcomes in the United States. Social disadvantages, such as lower income and education levels, correlate with poorer health. Health disparities rising from such economic differences are often a result of quality food, transportation, and healthcare. Socioeconomic statuses that reduce access to the aforementioned health indicators of food, transportation, and quality care, therefore, have implications for colorectal cancer diagnoses.
In Oregon, eligible populations are provided with free or low-cost health coverage through the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s medicaid program. These recipients form a substantial amount of Oregon's population, making it necessary to examine the implications a colorectal cancer diagnosis has on this low-income group. Medicaid serves as an indication of low-income status, as its eligibility is based on at or below 138% of the federal poverty line.
34% are enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the state’s medicaid program. This percentage is over 10% more than the national average, making Oregon Medicaid recipients a significant population in the state.
Within Yamhill County, a recorded 49.7% by the OHP enrollment report are OHP recipients. This quantity depicts the relevance of the socioeconomic status that qualifies for Medicaid within our local community. When looking at this group in terms of colorectal cancer, it is important to recognize the influence socioeconomic factors have on patient outcomes. While data is not specified about the percentage of OHP recipients above 45 (the recommended screening age for colorectal cancer), almost 70% are above 20 years old. This insinuates that a sizable number of Medicaid recipients are at higher risk for colorectal cancer based on age, and therefore are advised to receive preventative screenings.
Clearly, medicaid recipients are a key component of Oregon’s population. Despite the availability of free or low-cost health coverage, disparities persist, especially in outcomes of colorectal cancer. The environment is a key factor contributing to colorectal cancer mortality rates. It is found that low-income neighborhoods experience worse outcomes than more affluent zip codes. Specifically, “patients in high-income neighborhoods initiated treatment significantly earlier than those in low-income neighborhoods”.
Additionally, improved overall survival was higher in higher-income neighborhoods. A multitude of factors, often systemic, are behind this inequality. Regular primary care access is often necessary for receiving screening recommendations; reduced access to this, often from transportation difficulties, makes for lower screening uptake in medicaid patients. Furthermore, quality diets composed of fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds often require access to full-service grocery stores. Food deserts and more rural towns, such as those that make up much of Yamhill County, have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, which is key when preventing colorectal cancer. The lack of transportation for Medicaid recipients makes accessing supermarkets more difficult. When the closest and cheapest option for food is convenience stores or fast food, many are likely to opt for those.
Overall, efforts to keep improving systems of care for this population are necessary to offset systemic barriers regarding colorectal cancer diagnoses. Early detection is key when reducing negative outcomes, making it important to clarify the conditions in which Medicaid recipients access screening resources.
Works Cited
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Cummins, Kaelyn C, et al. “Outcomes for Medicaid Patients with Colorectal Cancer Are
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Apr. 2025, pp. 1399–1399, https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17091399. Accessed 19 Aug.
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Kim, Sang Hoon, et al. “Dietary Intervention for Preventing Colorectal Cancer: A Practical
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