Webinar Today, November 28th on Colorectal Cancer Screening in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities
Join us today at 2:00pm ET for an NCCRT webinar, in which we will explore CRC screening in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This webinar will provide a brief overview of the NCCRT and ACS’s April 2016 summit on CRC and AI/AN communities and describe ACS’s recent grants to increase screening for AI/AN-serving primary care clinics. We will also hear from two AI/AN-serving organizations that are implementing innovative strategies to increase CRC screening in the communities they serve. Speakers will include: Laura Makaroff of ACS, Jessica Deaton of the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, and Richard Mousseau of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board. Registration is now open.

The webinar is open to NCCRT members, 80% by 2018 partners, CDC grantees, ACS Health Systems and Communications staff, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts. You must be registered to join the webinar.

Join ACS on Thursday, November 30th Webinar on Employer Strategies to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening
Join us on Thursday, November 30th at 2:00pm ET for an ACS webinar on how employers can impact their employees’ health through colorectal cancer screening interventions. The webinar will begin with a brief introduction to steps employers can take to increase screening rates at their company and then feature three corporate partners who have implemented effective strategies. Speakers will include presenters from Ameren, AT&T, and Progressive Insurance. Advance registration is not required. Save the date and follow this link to join the webinar via Webex on November 30^th.

The webinar is open to ACS staff, NCCRT members, 80% by 2018 partners, CDC grantees, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts.

Nominations for the 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards Are Open!
The NCCRT is pleased to announce that nominations are open for the 2018 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards, a competitive recognition program that seeks to highlight 80% by 2018 success stories by recognizing individuals and organizations who are dedicating their time, talent and expertise to advancing the shared goal to regularly screen 80% of adults 50 and over by 2018.

Of course, we welcome nominations of partners who have reached 80%, but we are also looking to recognize systems who are seeing noted improvements in baseline screening rates or recognize individual champions who have made a difference through leadership or other means. Visit the 80% by 2018 National Achievement Awards webpage to learn about contest rules, prizes and recognition, and to submit your nomination. The top nominee will receive a $3,000 donation to support their efforts (see the website for details and exceptions). Watch this video from Dr. Wender to learn more.

The nominations deadline is December 11^th, 2017. Visit www.nccrt.org/awards to learn more and submit your nomination (or self-nomination) today!

Action Needed:  2017 NCCRT Task Group Webinars Replays
As a reminder, those attending the task group meetings at the 2017 Annual Meeting are required to view a short webinar to bring you up to speed on the task group you will be attending. The webinar replays are listed below for your convenience. This new requirement is in response to last year’s annual meeting evaluation, in which attendees felt there was not enough time in the task groups for discussion. These webinars are intended to briefly bring you up to speed about the work of the task group you will be attending, in order to allow more time for discussion.

• Evaluation and Measurement >>>
• Community Health Centers >>>
• Public Awareness and Social Media >>>
• Professional Education and Practice Implementation >>>
• Policy Action >>>
• Family History and Early Age Onset CRC – Webinar to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29 – 12 to 12:30 p.m. EST

And thank you to all NCCRT task group chairs and members who have participated in these webinars!   We have thoroughly enjoyed the discussion, as well as the engagement and enthusiasm.  Also, if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, these webinars serve as a great way to learn about the current and ongoing projects of the NCCRT and find opportunities for participation in task group activities. Please send any questions, comments, or feedback to [email protected].

NCCRT Annual Meeting Workshop Selection Due by December 1^st, 2017
For those of you coming to the NCCRT Annual Meeting next week, we have many great choices for workshops at this year’s meeting of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. During the workshops, members have an opportunity to learn about new tools, resources and emerging trends. To accommodate everyone at this year’s meeting, please take a moment to select your top choices for workshops by 5:00 PM ET Friday, December 1^st.

If you do not make any selections, selections will be made for you. If you are not coming to the NCCRT meeting, no action is needed.  Many thanks to those of you who have already made your selections!

NCCRT Member Organizational Reports are Due December 1^st, 2017
It’s that time of year!  We know our members are doing great work, and we want to hear about it!  In preparation for this year’s annual meeting of the NCCRT, members are requested to provide a brief summary of organizational activities focused on colorectal cancer screening since the last NCCRT meeting.  New this year, we will be posting the reports to nccrt.org (with your permission), so please plan accordingly.  We will only be accepting forms through the online form, but please let us know if you would like a Word copy to help organize your response.  Only one response is needed per organization, so please coordinate with your colleagues who are also active in the NCCRT.

These reports will be shared with all members to allow us to see activities underway that contribute to our shared life-saving mission. Please fill out the report online no later than close of business Friday, December 1st.

NCCRT Recognizes National Family Health History Day with New Blog
The NCCRT Family History and Early Age Onset Task Group co-chairs, Drs. Dennis Ahnen and Paul Schroy, recognized National Family Health History Day on the 80% by 2018 Blog this past Thanksgiving. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving as National Family Health History Day since 2004, and the NCCRT joined this initiative to encourage everyone to take time to discuss and document our colorectal cancer family history. In addition to the blog, the NCCRT participated in the #FamilyHealthHistory Thunderclap on Twitter.

Our family’s history of colorectal cancer and screening has important implications about our own disease risks and can substantially change screening recommendations. We encourage the practice of talking about family health history and then sharing what is learn with healthcare providers to better prevent, predict, and treat any potential disease. While National Family Health History Day was this past Thanksgiving, this blog post includes information and resources useful for sharing throughout the holiday season as families are gathering.

Clarification from CMS on Coverage for Anesthesia Services Furnished in Conjunction with Colonoscopy
CMS has issued a clarification that for anesthesia services furnished in conjunction with a screening colonoscopy, Medicare will waive both the deductible and copay, when coded according to CMS guidance, starting January 1, 2018.  Unfortunately, if the screening colonoscopy becomes a diagnostic colonoscopy, according to their definition, only the deductible will be waived for the anesthesia services. See this brief for specific details.    Many thanks to Dr. Joel Brill for bringing this to our attention.

New Messages From the Colon Cancer Coalition Urging Young People Not to Ignore Symptoms
The Colon Cancer Coalition has launched an effort to educate adults under 50 about the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. Now through January 15, 2018, the symptoms of colorectal cancer are being highlighted in Times Square, New York City.  The video message proclaims: BLOOD IN YOUR STOOL, Not Normal. UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT LOSS, Not Normal. Don’t Ignore Colon Cancer Symptoms.  Visit this link for more information. Thank you to Becky Siegel for bringing this to our attention.  Congratulations to the Colon Cancer Coalition for their work on this effort.

Dak Prescott PSA
With football season upon us, you may want to link to this PSA from Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott.  Dak knows how it feels to lose to #coloncancer. It took his mom in 2013.  His message for you: Get Screened. It could save your life. #AttackingCancer  Many thanks to the 70 by 20 Coalition, Mississippi State University and the American Cancer Society for their work on this video.

Relevant Journal Articles

Here is a recent relevant article that may be of interest:

• A CDC study appeared in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that examined cancer screenings, including colorectal cancer screening, among U.S. adults by health insurance status.  Compared with adequately insured adults, underinsured and never insured women were 3% and 47% less likely to receive colorectal cancer screening, respectively; underinsured and never insured men were 6% and 52% less likely to receive colorectal cancer screening, respectively. Compared with adults with employer-based insurance/Medicare (aged ≥65 years), women and men with self-purchased plans were less likely to receive colorectal cancer screening; however, men with other public insurance were more likely to receive colorectal cancer screening. Congratulations to the study authors on this publication.