Document Type
Article
Publication Title
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Publication Date
8-2016
ISSN
1945-7731
Page Number
39
Keywords
health insurance, mammography, mandates, breast cancer
Disciplines
Health Law and Policy | Insurance Law | Law
Abstract
We examine the effects of state health insurance mandates requiring coverage of screening mammograms. We find evidence that mammography mandates significantly increased mammography screenings by 4.5-25 percent. Effects are larger for women with less than a high school degree in states that ban deductibles, a policy similar to a provision of federal health reform that eliminates cost-sharing for preventive care. We also find that mandates increased detection of early stage in-situ precancers. Finally, we find a substantial proportion of the increased screenings were attributable to mandates that are not consistent with 2014 recommendations of the American Cancer Society.
Recommended Citation
Christopher K. Carpenter and Marianne P. Bitler,
Health Insurance Mandates, Mammography, and Breast Cancer Diagnoses, 8 American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 39
(2016)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty-publications/1591