A recent study reveals a significant disparity in breast cancer screening rates among women Medicaid beneficiaries experiencing housing insecurity. The research, conducted in Pennsylvania, sheds light on the complex relationship between housing status and preventive healthcare utilization.
The study examined 73,456 women Medicaid beneficiaries aged 50-64 years, comparing those with a history of housing-related services to those without such encounters. The findings are stark: women who received housing-related services had a mammography rate of 44.8%, compared to 50.1% among those who did not, representing a 5.3 percentage point gap.
This disparity was even more pronounced among those experiencing chronic homelessness, with a 9.4 percentage point lower screening rate compared to their stably housed counterparts. The research underscores the critical impact of housing insecurity on preventive care access and utilization.
Interestingly, the study found that while access to primary care was associated with higher screening rates overall, it did not eliminate the disparity linked to housing insecurity. This suggests that addressing housing issues may be as crucial as improving healthcare access in reducing screening disparities.
The implications of these findings are significant for public health policy. As preventive screenings play a vital role in early cancer detection and improved outcomes, the lower rates among housing-insecure populations could lead to delayed diagnoses and potentially worse health outcomes for this vulnerable group.
This research highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve preventive care among housing-insecure populations. Policymakers and healthcare providers must consider the broader social determinants of health, particularly housing stability, when designing strategies to improve cancer screening rates and overall health equity.
The study, supported by grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, provides valuable insights for addressing health disparities in underserved communities. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive approaches that consider both healthcare access and social factors in improving preventive care utilization among vulnerable populations.
See: “Housing-Related Disparities in Receipt of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Medicaid Beneficiaries” (March 22, 2025)
