Physician Visits and Colorectal Cancer Testing Among Medicare Enrollees in North Carolina and South Carolina, 2005
2011

Colorectal Cancer Testing and Physician Visits Among Medicare Enrollees

Sample size: 1108424 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Schenck Anna P., Klabunde Carrie N., Warren Joan L., Jackson Eric, Peacock Sharon, Lapin Pauline

Primary Institution: University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health

Hypothesis

The study aimed to evaluate physician visits of Medicare enrollees who lack appropriate colorectal cancer testing to identify opportunities to increase testing.

Conclusion

Many Medicare enrollees who had physician visits still did not receive appropriate colorectal cancer testing, indicating a need for targeted strategies to improve screening rates.

Supporting Evidence

  • 46.5% of enrollees lacked appropriate colorectal cancer testing.
  • 19.8% of untested enrollees had no physician visits in 2005.
  • Enrollees with primary care visits were more likely to be tested.

Takeaway

Almost half of the older people on Medicare didn't get the tests they needed for colon cancer, even if they saw doctors. We need to find better ways to help them get tested.

Methodology

The study used Medicare data from North Carolina and South Carolina to compare physician visit types and frequencies for enrollees with and without colorectal cancer tests.

Potential Biases

Potential biases include the reliance on claims data, which may not capture all relevant health information.

Limitations

The study may not be generalizable to other regions, and it included Medicare enrollees aged 65 to 85, which may not represent all age groups.

Participant Demographics

Participants were Medicare enrollees aged 65 to 85, with a mix of racial and ethnic backgrounds, including a significant percentage of minorities.

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