As the unemployment rate climbs, fewer people seek preventive medical care, such as mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings, according to a new study by the University of Washington School of Public Health. Led by Dr. Nathan Tefft, assistant professor of health services, researchers found that a one percent increase in a state’s unemployment rate is associated with a 1.58 percent decrease in the quantity of preventive care services utilized. Preventive medical services are already under-utilized and a further drop in access has significant policy and public health implications, from greater illness to higher health care costs down the road.