Accelerating Cancer Screening - Health Center Grant: H80CS00408 Project Director: Marsha Thigpen, MD Contact Phone: (409) 983-1161, ext. 880 Email Address: MThigpen@gulfcoasthc.org Web Address: www/gulfcoastc.org Requested Funds: $500,000 Organization History/Information/Population Served: Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc. (GCHC), a 501 (c) 3 Federally Qualified Health Center located in Port Arthur, Texas, has been offering comprehensive health care services to uninsured, underinsured, low-income, and indigent residents of Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, and Orange Counties since 1978. Each of these counties are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas with either a Medically Underserved Area (MUA)/Population (MUP) designation. GCHC’s mission is to provide quality, affordable, and accessible primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care to the communities of Southeast Texas. GCHC operates five health center sites of which two include dental services, two school-based health centers, and two mobile medical vans. In 2021, GCHC served 15,694 unduplicated patients. The majority of GCHC’s patients (75%) live in poverty, fewer than 5% are known to have incomes above 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and 68% are uninsured. GCHC’s patient population represents the ethnic and racial diversity of area – 33% of the patients are White non-Hispanic, 33% are Black, and 27% are Hispanic. Barriers to Care/Health Indicators: The greatest barriers to health care access, including cancer screening and treatment, is poverty, lack of health insurance, and racial disparities. African Americans and low-income women have lower rates of cancer screening and higher rates of late-stage disease than do their counterparts (JIM, 2002). In 2021, 68% of GCHC’s patients were uninsured and fewer than 5% were known to have incomes above 200% FPL. The Service area population is poor and uninsured: 73,500 people or 17% live at or below poverty; 102,000 people or 23% of the adult population age 18-54 are without health insurance (ACS, SAHIE). Colorectal cancer risks include adult obesity (41% of county residents are obese); smoking (25% of county residents smoke); and physical inactivity (40% of adults report limited physical activity). Proposed Project In partnership with NCI-designated Cancer Center MD Anderson, GCHC will increase outreach to the community and patients to increase colorectal cancer screening and providing access to cancer treatment services from 3% to 25% in Year 1, and 40% in Year 2.