CDC awards $22M for colorectal cancer screeningCTC gets zilch

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a total of $22 million to 26 states and tribal organizations to provide colorectal cancer screening services for underinsured or uninsured people aged 50-64 years. However, CT colonography (CTC) services will not receive any funding.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The awards range from $358,283 to $1.1 million, and the awardees are expected to begin screening patients for colorectal cancer within six months.

The funding will support screening and diagnostic follow-up care, data collection and tracking, public education and outreach, provider education and an evaluation to measure the clinical outcomes, costs and effectiveness of the program.

The awardees can choose from among any of the screenings for colorectal cancer: colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and stool testing; but not CTC.

The states receiving five-year awards are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.

The tribal organizations receiving awards are: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Arctic Slope Native Association, South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency and Southcentral Foundation.

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