Higher State Taxes Linked to Lower Cancer Death Rates, New Study Finds

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests a compelling link between higher state tax revenues and lower cancer mortality rates in the United States, as per Fox News.

Conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University, Emory University, and the University of Verona, the study analyzed over two decades of data to explore how tax policy might influence public health outcomes—particularly cancer screenings and death rates.

The researchers examined 1,150 state-years of tax data between 1997 and 2019, alongside cancer screening and mortality statistics drawn from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their findings indicate that states collecting more tax revenue per capita tend to experience better cancer outcomes.

Specifically, for every $1,000 increase in per capita tax revenue, there was a:

• 1.61% increase in colorectal cancer screening,
• 2.17% increase in breast cancer screening, and
• 0.72% increase in cervical cancer screening.

Furthermore, among cancer patients, each $1,000 increase in tax revenue was associated with up to a 4% reduction in death rates among White patients. However, this protective effect was not observed in racial and ethnic minority populations, raising concerns about disparities in access and outcomes.

“State-level tax policy is an underappreciated social determinant of health that may improve cancer screening and mortality rates,” the study authors wrote.

They argued that tax revenue could support the development of safer, healthier communities and improved access to quality healthcare services.

Despite the strong associations, researchers caution that the study does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The data relied on self-reported screening rates, which may be subject to bias, and there is potential for measurement errors.

Still, the findings build on earlier research linking tax policy to broader public health measures, including infant mortality and access to care.

The authors suggest that state tax policy should be considered as part of a broader strategy to reduce cancer mortality and improve health equity across the country.