The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently reported 2015 Uniform Data System (UDS) data shows significant gains in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in the nation’s federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), also called community health centers.

The UDS CRC screening rate has climbed two percentage points each year for the past three years. But in 2015, the rate jumped by nearly four points. This increase represents an additional 279,990 FQHC patients were screened for CRC in 2015 as compared to 2014.

FQHCs served 24,295,946 patients in 2015, many of which are at or below the federal poverty level and come from underserved communities that experience lower CRC screening rates. Because of this, FQHCs have tremendous potential to improve CRC screening rates and to reduce CRC morbidity and mortality in racially and ethnically diverse, socioeconomically challenged communities across the country.

The NCCRT would like to congratulate our partners at HRSA and the National Association for Community Health Centers (NACHC) for championing 80% by 2018 among their grantee and member FQHC partners. And most of all, we’d like to share a huge round of applause for the staff and providers at FQHCs for their persistence and innovation in working day in and day out to provide eligible patients with the opportunity to screen for this largely preventable disease.

Visit the HRSA website to learn more about the UDS measure and to find the UDS screening rate for FQHCs in your state.