An analysis of 658,593 adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2006 and 2021 found that Medicaid expansion was associated with improved survival. Using data from the National Cancer Database, researchers compared outcomes in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act with those that did not.
During the post-expansion period, states with Medicaid expansion had a 6.3% lower risk of overall mortality than non-expansion states (HR 0.94; 95% CI, 0.93–0.95). Hispanic patients experienced the largest observed benefit, with a 22.6% lower risk of death. Patients with stage IV disease also saw substantial benefit, with an 11.6% lower mortality risk.
Medicaid expansion was additionally associated with a 2.13-percentage-point increase in early-stage diagnoses, a 1.54-percentage-point increase in surgical treatment, and a 0.68-percentage-point increase in receipt of any treatment. Researchers noted that coverage may help patients maintain access to complex, ongoing care, particularly in advanced disease.