On May 18, 2021, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final Recommendation, Evidence Summary, and Modeling Study on screening for colorectal cancer. The primary difference from the previous 2016 recommendation is that average risk adults are now recommended to start screening at age 45, in alignment with the American Cancer Society’s 2018 recommendation.

During this NCCRT webinar, a panel of expert speakers discussed:

• What changed in the new recommendation? And what data informed the decision to lower the screening age to 45?
• How does the new recommendation impact insurance coverage and what is the timeline?
• When will the new guideline be reflected in colorectal cancer screening quality measures and national screening rate indicators?
• What data do we have on screening in 45-49 year olds and what do we know about them?
• The experiences of one state (Indiana) that began implementing screening at age 45 statewide following legislation to lower the screening age in 2019.

Speakers:

• Heather Dacus, DO, MPH; Director, Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control, NYS Department of Health; NCCRT Policy Action Strategic Priority Team Co-chair (Moderator)
• Robert Smith, PHD; Senior Vice President, Cancer Screening; American Cancer Society; NCCRT Co-chair
• Anna Schwamlein Howard; Principal, Policy Development, Access to and Quality of Care; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
• Sepheen Byron; Assistant Vice President of Performance Measurement, the National Committee for Quality Assurance 
• Stacey Fedewa, PhD; Scientific Director, Screening and Risk Factors Surveillance; American Cancer Society
• Bryan Hannon; Regional Government Relations Director; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network