Sunday, June 15, 2025
6/15/2025
North Carolina Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (NC PICCS) - In North Carolina, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of all cancer deaths. Approximately 38% of those diagnosed with CRC will die of the disease. Many of these deaths could be prevented if all individuals aged 50 years or older were routinely screened. Systematic approaches are needed to achieve national CRC screening goals proposed by Healthy People 2020 (70.5%), and other initiatives such as the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s goal of “80% in Every Community”. The purpose of this grant is to increase NC colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among target populations age 50-75 years through improved screening delivery systems and implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs). The Division of Public Health Cancer Prevention and Control Branch (CPCB), American Cancer Society (ACS), and the University of North Carolina (UNC) have agreed to partner with NC Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to improve screening rates through EBIs, improved data quality and linkage to follow up for patients with positive FIT tests. Addressing screening in FQHCs will give us a statewide reach, as 87 of NC’s 100 counties have at least 1 FQHC primary care location. In 2018, FQHCs served over 570,000 patients; nearly 50% were of an ethnic minority, 48% were at or below the Federal Poverty Level, and 42% were uninsured. Of eligible patients in FQHCs statewide, only 43% were screened for CRC. Four of the larger FQHCs with significantly lower screening rates have submitted Letters of Support to express their willingness to engage in the Learning Collaboratives, assessments, data collection and other CDC requirements of this opportunity. Through this funding, the CPCB/ACS/UNC team will assist FQHCs to implement EBIs and supporting strategies such as patient navigation, improve data quality and improve access to follow up care as needed. The following short-, intermediate-, and long-term outcomes will be achieved: • Partnerships established that support increased CRC screening • At least two EBIs implemented within FQHC health systems • Knowledge about need for and access to CRC screening increased • Provider knowledge of and adherence to USPSTF CRC screening guidelines improved • Clinic-level data quality improved • Data used for population health • Disparities in CRC screening, CRC incidence and mortality decreased • Detection of early-stage CRC increased • Timely CRC treatment initiation increased • CRC incidence and mortality decreased • Number of cancers prevented increased • Diagnosis of cancers at early stages increased
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).