WOMEN experiencing housing insecurity are significantly less likely to receive routine breast cancer screening, according to a new study analyzing Medicaid beneficiaries in Pennsylvania. The findings highlight a critical gap in preventive care for vulnerable populations and underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve access.
The study reviewed mammography rates among 73,456 women aged 50-64 enrolled in Medicaid from 2011 to 2019. Researchers compared those with documented encounters for housing-related services, signifying housing insecurity, against those without such encounters. Results revealed a 5.3 percentage-point disparity in screening rates, with only 44.8% of housing-insecure women receiving biennial mammograms compared to 50.1% of their housed counterparts (P < .001). The disparity was even more pronounced among women with chronic homelessness, who had a 9.4 percentage-point lower screening rate than those without housing challenges (P = .036). While access to primary care improved screening rates overall, it did not eliminate the gap, indicating that additional barriers, such as instability, competing priorities, and healthcare access challenges, may contribute to the lower utilization of preventive services. These findings emphasize the urgent need for healthcare initiatives that address social determinants of health, particularly housing status. Integrating breast cancer screening efforts with housing support programs and expanding outreach within Medicaid services could help bridge this gap and improve early detection rates among at-risk women. Reference: Kwon Y et al. Housing-Related Disparities in Receipt of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Medicaid Beneficiaries. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025:OP2401094. Anaya Malik | AMJ
