September 2025 | Ann Nguyen & Anita Y. Kinney | Rutgers Health Researchers on Medicaid Cancer Screening Trends, Best Practices
Ann Nguyen, an associate research professor and implementation scientist at the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, led the most up-to-date analysis of Medicaid cancer screening trends in New Jersey as well as companion studies of best practices and key factors for facilitating cancer screenings.
Overall trends point to an increase in screening rates for certain types of cancer, though disparities owing to geography, cancer type, race and ethnicity remain. New Jersey is making progress, however, partly because of the increased availability of culturally competent care that bridges accessibility gaps between certain communities and their health systems.
Anita Kinney, co-author of the two studies and an associate director for Population Science and Community Outreach at Rutgers Cancer Institute and director of ScreenNJ, a partnership between the Rutgers Cancer Institute, the New Jersey Department of Health and health care and community organizations across the state aimed at increasing cancer screenings.
Nguyen and Kinney discuss how addressing the individual- and system-level barriers to accessing cancer prevention services can save lives and save money for patients and payers alike.