Influence of Medicaid Expansion on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presentation and Survival

Objective: To compare head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stage at presentation and survival in Medicaid-expanded states versus nonexpanded states. Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Methods: The Head and Neck with human papillomavirus Status Database within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program was queried for cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosed in the years 2010 to 2016. Cases were grouped according to their respective state Medicaid expansion status. Multivariable logistic regressions and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations with stage IV disease and survival. Results: Compared to nonexpanded states, Medicaid-expanded states had a significantly larger proportion of Medicaid patients (20.3% vs 16.7%, P =.0009) and a significantly smaller proportion of uninsured patients (1.7% vs 10.1%, P <.0001). The case selection process resulted in 2215 patients meeting inclusion criteria. In multivariable analysis, cases under Medicaid expansion were 31% less likely to present with stage IV disease compared to cases in nonexpanded states (odds ratio: 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.93). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, cases under Medicaid expansion had significantly better mortality outcomes and were 32% less likely to die compared to cases in nonexpanded states (hazard ratio: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55-0.84). Conclusion: Medicaid expansion is associated with fewer stage IV cases and improved survival of HNSCC cases. These findings support continued efforts to expand Medicaid coverage.