Study Shows Disparities In Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Colorectal Cancer
Article Date: 23 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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While colorectal cancer screenings have increased among all Medicare beneficiaries, white beneficiaries receive the screening more than others, according to a new study, United Press International reports.

For the study, researchers at the University of California-Davis and the University of Washington used data from a National Cancer Institute database. They looked at about 500,000 people ages 70 to 79 who were white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic.

Lead author Joshua Fenton of UC-Davis said in a statement, "The issue clearly is not lack of access to health insurance. Socioeconomic, cultural and language barriers are all possibilities, but understanding which of these barriers is relevant for which group is essential to narrowing the gaps" (United Press International, 2/20).

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