Impact of Primary Care Providers and Health Insurance Type on Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer deaths. We evaluated the effect of health insurance type and primary care provider (PCP) access on CRC screening. METHODS: HINTS data were used to analyze CRC screening. RESULTS: Individuals aged 50 to 65 years had comparable screening rates across all insurance types. Beyond 65 years, individuals with Medicare or Medicare with private insurance were more likely to undergo screening than private insurance users. PCP access increased CRC screening rates. Among PCP users, Medicare, income, and smoking status influenced screening. DISCUSSION: Medicare and PCP access influence CRC screening. All individuals should be linked with PCPs.