Study: Medicaid cuts could result in over 1 million missed cancer screenings

Anticipated Medicaid coverage reductions stemming from cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lead to more than 1 million missed cancer screenings and hundreds of avoidable deaths within two years of Medicaid restrictions becoming effective, researchers found. The researchers used a decision analytic model based on state-level Medicaid data for adults. They found 7.5 million Medicaid-enrolled adults eligible for cancer screening would lose coverage during the first two years of implementation of stricter work requirements and verification checks, primarily affecting young and socially vulnerable enrollees. The result will be more than 1.15 million missed breast, colorectal and lung cancer screenings, translating into 2,341 undetected cancers, with 326 cancers presenting at an advanced stage, leading to 155 deaths. JAMA Oncology published the results. (MedPage Today article, 1/9/26)