Using data from 106 health plans, researchers determined monthly rates of screening colonoscopies on patients ages 50-64 from January 2005-November 2007 and December 2007-June 2009. They found screening colonoscopy rates decreased by 68.9 colonoscopies per 1 million individuals per month during the recession, resulting in approximately 500,000 fewer screening colonoscopies during the two-year period. They also found patients with higher out-of-pocket costs had lower rates of screening before and during the recession and had a larger decrease in screening rates during the recession.
Related Articles on Colorectal Cancer Screening:
Study: Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Increases Colorectal Cancer Detection
Study: Colorectal Cancer Screening Most Likely Preventive Service to be Completed
Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Significantly Lower Than 2020 Target of 70.5%
