I understand you’re involved in the 80% by 2018 initiative to improve colorectal cancer screening rates. Can you tell us more about that effort?

Nationally, about 65 percent of age-appropriate adults have been screened according to federal guidelines. While that’s a marked improvement over previous decades, it still means that roughly one in three adults who should get screened has not been. The goal of this initiative is to raise the national screening rate for age-appropriate adults to 80 percent by 2018, with a focus on helping navigate financial barriers and improving access to screening for the uninsured and medically underserved populations.

Getting the word out about federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that may offer low- or no-cost screening is one way to increase screening access for underserved communities. States can also apply for funding for screening programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty-five states already have CDC-funded screening programs in place.

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