Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
With funding from CDC’s Public Health and Health Systems Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Clinical Settings Cooperative Agreement, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Division of Clinical Preventive Services (DCPS) will continue its current process improvement initiative with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC) to improve the rate of CRC screening in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) through the use of Community Guide-recommended evidence based interventions (EBIs). DCPS will continue to partner with MLCHC to implement a learning collaborative for FQHCs focused on the implementation of a high-quality fecal immunochemical test (FIT) program, and increasing the use of patient and provider reminder systems and feedback reporting to increase the rate of CRC screening in individuals 50-75 years of age. While the overall screening rate in Massachusetts is 77.1%, data shows that the average CRC screening rate for clients receiving care in FQHCs is nearly 20 percentage points lower. Only 55.6% of age-appropriate FQHC patients are up-to-date with CRC screening, with ranges varying significantly from 17.8%-80.5%. The state’s FQHCs care for patients of all ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds, and represent a major source of care for medically underserved men, women and children. FQHC patients are disproportionately low-income, publicly insured or uninsured, and are at higher risk for developing chronic diseases, including cancer. Working through these health centers allows maximum reach to a highly underserved population, as well as a common data management platform for proposed quality improvement interventions and access to the data necessary for evaluation. Use of fecal testing in MA also lags behind the national average and is an opportunity to improve overall screening rates. If funded, OCPS will also focus on improving statewide screening rates by encouraging provider use and recommendation of FIT/FOBT through professional development opportunities and increasing public awareness of fecal testing as a CRC screening option. Massachusetts requests $750,000 to continue support of its colorectal cancer screening efforts. Through this funding, DCPS will leverage key internal and external partnerships and utilize current infrastructure to provide targeted outreach to underserved populations, population-based cancer education, professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and general programmatic oversight.
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).
