New Jersey
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Covered and Using Updated Guidelines
Highlighted Disparity
Black individuals in New Jersey are most likely to receive no treatment.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 51.8 and significantly lower than the national rate of 54.6.
- New Jersey ranks 14th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases improved by 19%.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in New Jersey is 29.9%, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 8th among the 42 states with survival data, placing it in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in New Jersey improved by 20%.
Early Diagnosis:
- 27.7% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 26.6%.
- It ranks 18th among the 47 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 New Jersey did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- New Jersey ranked 4th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 26.0% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly higher than the national rate of 20.8% and puts New Jersey in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in New Jersey improved by -9%.
Lack of Treatment:
- New Jersey ranked 29th (out of the 47 states with available data) with 20.7% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is not significantly different than the national rate of 20.6% and puts New Jersey in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in New Jersey did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In New Jersey, 2.7% of those at high risk were screened, which was significantly lower than the national rate of 4.5%.
- It ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
- Actual screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- New Jersey was one of the 49 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs covered lung cancer screening as of October 2023.
- While their program used recommended guidelines for determining eligibility and did not require prior authorization, it was not known if it required copays.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in New Jersey is 10.7% and significantly lower than the national rate of 13.5%.
- It ranks 7th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Radon:
- In New Jersey, 9.8% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 8th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 49.4 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in New Jersey, significantly lower than the rate of 56.3 among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 58.3 among white individuals in New Jersey.
- The five-year survival rate is 21.9% among Black individuals in New Jersey, not significantly different than the rate of 23.8% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 31.0% among white individuals in New Jersey.
- 21.6% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in New Jersey, not significantly different than the rate of 23.2% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New Jersey.
- 18.8% of Black individuals with lung cancer in New Jersey underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 17.0% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 27.0% among white individuals in New Jersey.
- 25.9% of Black individuals with lung cancer in New Jersey did not receive any treatment, significantly higher than the rate of 22.4% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 19.8% among white individuals in New Jersey.
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 31.0 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in New Jersey, significantly higher than the rate of 28.2 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 58.3 among white individuals in New Jersey.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino individuals is 22.7%, not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 23.1% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in New Jersey, not significantly different than the rate of 23.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 29.2% among white individuals in New Jersey.
- 24.8% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New Jersey underwent surgery, significantly higher than the rate of 21.6% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 27.0% among white individuals in New Jersey.
- 23.3% of Latino individuals with lung cancer in New Jersey did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 26.1% among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 19.8% among white individuals in New Jersey.
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 New Jersey, significantly lower than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 60 among whites in New Jersey.
- 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.
- 21% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in New Jersey, not significantly different than the rate of 22% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 28% among whites in New Jersey.
- 27% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in New Jersey underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 25% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 27% among whites in New Jersey.
- 21% of Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders with lung cancer in New Jersey did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 21% among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 20% among whites in New Jersey.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 9.0 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New Jersey, significantly lower than the rate of 39.4 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 58.3 among white individuals in New Jersey.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 22.3% and not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in New Jersey due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Summary
Despite the early diagnosis rate in New Jersey 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.
New Jersey has improved access to expanded screening by covering it through its fee-for-service Medicaid program. 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.
New Jersey 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.