Objective To describe the number and proportion of eligible women receiving mammograms funded by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Methods Low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women aged 40–64 are eligible for mammography screening through the NBCCEDP. We used data from the NBCCEDP, the Current Population Survey, and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to describe the number and proportion of women screened by the NBCCEDP and overall. Results In 2011 and 2012, the NBCCEDP screened 549,043 women aged 40–64, an estimated 10.6 % (90 % confidence interval [CI] 10.4–10.9 %) of the eligible population. We estimate that 30.6 % (90 % CI 26.4–34.8 %) of eligible women aged 40–64 were screened outside the NBCCEDP, and 58.8 % (90 % CI 54.6–63.0 %) were not screened. The proportion of eligible women screened by the NBCCEDP varied across states, with an estimated range of 3.2 % (90 % CI 2.9–3.5 %) to 52.8 % (90 % CI 36.1–69.6 %) and a median of 13.7 % (90 % CI 11.0–16.4 %). The estimated proportion of eligible women aged 40–64 who received mammograms through the NBCCEDP was relatively constant over time, 11.1 % (90 % CI 10.2–11.9 %) in 1998–1999 and 10.6 % (90 % CI 10.4–11.9 %) in 2011–2012 (p = 0.23), even as the number of women screened increased from 343,692 to 549,043. Conclusions Although the NBCCEDP provided screening services to over a half million low-income uninsured women for mammography, it served a small percentage of those eligible. The majority of low-income, uninsured women were not screened.

Objective. Examine measurement error to public health insurance in the American Community Survey (ACS). Data Sources/Study Setting. The ACS and the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS). Study Design. We tabulated the two data sources separately and then merged the data and examined health insurance reports among ACS cases known to be enrolled in Medicaid or expansion Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits. Data Collection/Extraction Methods. The two data sources were merged using protected identification keys. ACS respondents were considered enrolled if they had full benefit Medicaid or expansion CHIP coverage on the date of interview. Principal Findings. On an aggregated basis, the ACS overcounts the MSIS. After merging the data, we estimate a false-negative rate in the 2009 ACS of 21.6 percent. The false-negative rate varies across states, demographic groups, and year. Of known Medicaid and expansion CHIP enrollees, 12.5 percent were coded to some other coverage and 9.1 percent were coded as uninsured. Conclusions. The false-negative rate in the ACS is on par with other federal surveys. However, unlike other surveys, the ACS overcounts the MSIS on an aggregated basis. Future work is needed to disentangle the causes of the ACS overcount.

Although NBCCEDP provided cervical cancer screening services to 775,312 low-income, uninsured women, this number represented a small percentage of those eligible. In 2005, more than 34% of NBCCEDP-eligible women (3.1 million women) did not receive recommended Pap tests from either NBCCEDP or other sources.

Objective. This study presents evidence on how the dependent provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) differentially affected coverage for young adults across states and population subgroups. Study Design/Methods/Data. The data derive from the American Community Survey. Using a difference-in-difference design, we compare the target population (ages 19-25) with a control group (ages 26-29). Principal Findings. Net private health insurance coverage increased by 4.6 percentage points and overall coverage increased by 4.2 percentage points for people aged 19-25; more for Whites than non-White subgroups. Conclusions and Implications. Changes in coverage for states appear driven by demographics rather than the existence of prior dependent expansions by the state. Disparities in health care coverage remain, but the absolute level of coverage is improving.Young adults are less likely to have insurance than other age groups; 29.7 percent of people aged 19-25 were uninsured in 2010 as compared with 16.3 percent of all people (DeNavas-Walt, Proctor, and Smith 2011). Also, young adults are at the least risk of needing medical services; compared with the population 25 years and older, young adults are healthier and do not consume as many medical services (O'Hara and Caswell 2012). Therefore, at least in some health reform scenarios, expanding employer-provided coverage to dependent young adults is not very costly .

ObjectiveThe National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screens to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women. We describe the number and proportion of women eligible for cervical cancer screening services and the proportion of eligible women screened over the period 1997–2012.MethodsLow-income, uninsured, and underinsured women aged 18–64 years who have not had a hysterectomy are eligible for cervical cancer screening through the NBCCEDP. We estimated the number of low-income, uninsured women using data from the US Census Bureau. We adjusted our estimates for hysterectomy status using the National Health Interview Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We used data from the NBCCEDP to describe the number of women receiving NBCCEDP-funded screening and calculated the proportion of eligible women who received screening through the NBCCEDP at the national level (by age group, race/ethnicity) and at the state level by age group. We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate the proportion of NBCCEDP-eligible women who were screened outside the NBCCEDP and the proportion that are not screened. ResultsWe estimate that in 2010–2012, 705,970 women aged 18–64 years, 6.5 % (705,970 of 9.8 million) of the eligible population, received NBCCEDP-funded Pap tests. We estimate that 60.2 % of eligible women aged 18–64 years were screened outside the NBCCEDP and 33.3 % were not screened. The NBCCEDP provided 623,603 screens to women aged 40–64 years, an estimated 16.5 % of the eligible population, and 83,660 screens to women aged 18–39 years, representing an estimated 1.2 % of the eligible population. The estimated proportions of eligible women screened in each state ranged from 1.5 to 32.7 % and 5 % to 73.2 % among the 18–64 and 40–64 years age groups, respectively. Changes in the proportion of eligible women screened over the study period were nonsignificant.ConclusionsAlthough the program provided cervical screening to over 700,000 women between 2010 and 2012, it served a small percent of those eligible. The proportion of women screened varied substantially across age groups, racial/ethnic groups, and states. Many low-income, uninsured women are not being screened.