Friday, April 19, 2024
4/19/2024
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates across New York State (NYS) by supporting partner primary care clinics (federally qualified health centers, FQHCs) to implement priority evidence-based interventions (EBIs), ensuring systems are in place to support patient completion of the CRC screening continuum, including diagnostic and treatment services. CRC is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in NYS. Over 9,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with CRC annually and over 3,300 residents die from CRC each year (NYS Cancer Registry). In 2018, the NYS CRC screening rate was only 71% (NYS BRFSS). NYS FQHCs provide care for over 2.2 million people including some of the state’s most underserved and vulnerable populations that are least likely to be up to date with CRC screening; 51 of NYS’ 62 FQHCs report CRC screening rates below 60%, 39 FQHCs are below 50%. The NYSDOH will partner with FQHC primary care clinics with CRC screening rates below 60% to implement Community Guide-recommended priority EBIs (Provider Assessment and Feedback, Provider Reminders, Client Reminders and Reducing Structural Barriers) to increase clinic CRC screening rates among patients aged 50-75 years. Beginning in Year 1 with Open Door and Hudson River HealthCare FQHC clinics, and in each following grant year, the NYSDOH and partners who comprise a Project Team (IPRO, the NYS Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization and NYSDOH Office of Quality and Patient Safety) will conduct a formal assessment of each clinic’s readiness to implement EBIs and identify needed data system improvements. The Project Team will use the completed assessment to collaboratively develop a quality improvement plan with each clinic, to be implemented over twelve months. Throughout five-year grant, the Project Team will also 1) support partner clinics to ensure completion of follow-up colonoscopies after a positive or abnormal screening test (for men and women without health insurance, this will be accomplished with enrollment into the NYS Cancer Services Program and, if cancer is diagnosed, the NYS Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program) and 2) provide data management and validation expertise to clinics to collect high-quality clinic-level data including baseline and annual CRC screening rates. Program evaluation data will drive program improvements, with results disseminated across NYS to inform spread of best practices and lessons learned. Other key partners include the Community Health Care Association of NYS (CHCANYS), the American Cancer Society (ACS), NYS National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, NYS Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the NYS Cancer Registry and other cancer and chronic disease programs. Letters of support outline each partner’s contributions. These activities will support achievement of the primary program outcome, increased clinic-level CRC screening rates, and the intermediate outcomes of increased numbers of cancers prevented, increased diagnosis of early stage CRC, and long-term outcome of reduced CRC incidence and mortality.
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).
