What is 80% in Every Community? While the 80% by 2018 national colorectal cancer (CRC) screening campaign led by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), brought about progress in reducing CRC as evidenced by increased screening rates, there is still work to be done. The 80% in Every Community Strategic Plan (2020-2024) provides a variety of recommended activities to use toward achieving 80% CRC screening rates in all communities.[i] The goal is to reduce disparities in screening for marginalized populations including racial/cultural minorities, those with low education levels, and the uninsured. In the U.S., CRC is still the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among men and women combined.[ii]
What is the Vision of the plan? Everyone has access to a quality screening at the right time.
What are the Core Values of the plan? Collaboration of resources and emphasizing health equity to address disparities in screenings, incidence, and mortality.
What are the Desired Impacts of the plan? Screening rates meet or exceed 80% in communities, reduction in screening rate disparities, and declines in mortality.
How far away are we from reaching this goal? In 2022, the national Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) PPO average was 63.4 percent compared to BCBSTX’s Commercial PPO HEDIS result of 53.37 percent. BCBSTX Quality Improvement CRC screening efforts were numerous and included shipping out over 54K FIT Kits directly to members with gaps in care which resulted in a 14.8% gap closure rate. BCBSTX mailed over 7K advanced notification letters to PCPs with a list of which of their patients would be receiving a kit. In that letter, we asked to outreach these patients and encourage them to take part in the free at home screening.
We need your help to reach this goal! Over the next few months, we will provide a series of the 80% in Every Community articles which will provide more information on efforts to increase CRC screenings and identify barriers. These articles will supply useful information such as:
- 80% In Every Community - Resources
- Data & Progress
What influences these results? YOU DO! The biggest influencer to motivate patients to get screened is YOU and your staff. Identify your patients who need it, talk to them about the importance of CRC screenings and then get them screened! Once this happens, they can be easily tracked for annual follow-up.
What actions can you take to make a difference?
- Flag the EMR for those ages 45-75 and start that conversation.
- Have standing orders for CRC screenings for those ages 45-75 and follow through with them.
- Direct your most persuasive and educated staff to answer questions and concerns, and help patients commit and complete CRC screenings.
Remember: The best CRC screening test is the one that gets done! Thank you in advance for your commitment to this important preventive screening!
[i] National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. 2023. https://nccrt.org/
[ii] Cancer Facts & Figures. American Cancer Society. 2023. https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/2023-cancer-facts-figures.html