Medicaid is the primary health insurance program for low-income people in the US, offering comprehensive health care coverage to over 90 million people and ensuring millions of patients with cancer receive essential care.¹ Expanded Medicaid eligibility has been associated with increased access to care, earlier stage at diagnosis, increased receipt of cancer-directed treatment, and improved survival.² 

However, much less is known about how Medicaid variation between states influences equity of cancer care delivery. Section 1115 waivers are a key mechanism through which states can customize Medicaid enrollment, coverage, and benefits. Currently, 48 states and Washington, DC, use these waivers to modify Medicaid within the state.³ Gaps remain in our understanding of how these different 1115 waivers influence access to, receipt of, and outcomes from cancer care. Filling these gaps is critical to improve equity of cancer care in the US. [JAMA]

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