Colorectal Cancer Screening Project

Overview

It is crucial for people who have an abnormal or positive stool-based CRC screening test to get a timely follow-up colonoscopy. Unfortunately, the follow-up colonoscopy rate for rate for uninsured and underinsured people in the US is just 50-70%. This can be attributed to a mix of clinical and non-clinical barriers, including a lack of awareness among patients and health care professionals, local conditions and legislative and regulatory policies.

The goal of the ASGE CRC Screening Project is to increase the follow-up colonoscopy rate for underserved people across the US.

ASGE is collaborating on this effort with an array of key stakeholders, including:

FQHCs and medical practices
physicians and allied health care professionals
patient navigators
legislators and regulators
state and local advocacy organizations
community leaders

The ASGE CRC Screening Project is mainly funded by an unrestricted grant from Exact Sciences, with additional support from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and Sebela Pharmaceuticals’ Braintree Laboratories affiliate.

Objectives

Develop a financially sustainable model to ensure that uninsured/underinsured patients who have a positive a stool-based CRC screening test get a timely follow-up colonoscopy

Develop a roadmap to help patients navigate the CRC care process from beginning to end – including screening, follow-up and treatment (if applicable)

Fund developmental programs in Georgia and Maryland that have education, navigation and outreach components (i.e., primary sites/FQHCs)

Educate lawmakers on the need for for sustainable sources of funding for CRC screening and timely follow-up colonoscopies

Three Year Timeline

2023

2024

2025

Phase I (2023)

Hosted summits for state legislators and other key stakeholders in Georgia and Maryland in June and July
Hosted a national summit for leading CRC screening experts at ASGE on August 24
Selected primary sites/FQHCs in Georgia and Maryland
Finalized project workflow process
Finalized educational resources

Phase II (2024)

Primary sites/FQHCs in Georgia and Maryland will launch community outreach programs
Primary sites/FQHCs in Georgia and Maryland will screening 300 uninsured/underinsured patients for colorectal cancer using mt-sDNA Cologuard® tests – with an overall goal of 600 successfully “resulted” tests
Costs associated with participants’ follow-up colonoscopies will be covered by ASGE
Primary sites/FQHCs in Georgia and Maryland will track data
Continue efforts to educate lawmakers and other key stakeholders and build coalitions in Georgia and Maryland
Analyze project data

Phase III (2025)

Finalize data collection and analysis
Develop model public policy language for CRC screening and care
Host symposium at DDW to address project’s preliminary results
Host CRC screening summits in Georgia and Maryland
Host national CRC screening summit at ASGE
Publicize outcomes with key stakeholders
Develop playbook to increase CRC screening and follow-up colonoscopies across the US

The following 6-minute video provides some great insights into ASGE’s CRC Screening Project in Georgia, designed to increase CRC screening and follow-up colonoscopy rates for underserved patients.

ASGE/CRC Screening Citations & Resolutions

A Proclamation by the Governor of Georgia

Georgia Senate Resolution

Georgia House of Representatives Resolution

A Proclamation by the Governor of Maryland

Maryland Senate and House of Delegates Resolutions and Citation

Advisory Council

Chair

Jennifer Christie, MD, MASGE

The University of Colorado
Denver, CO

Members

Tonya Adams, MD

Gastro Health-Virginia Division
Fairfax, VA

Iman Boston, MD, MBA

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR

Juan Carlos Bucobo, MD, FASGE

Northwell Health
Manhasset, NY

Lukejohn Day, MD, FASGE

University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

Jason Dominitz, MD, MHS, MASGE

University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Pegah Hosseini-Carroll, MD, FASGE

University of Mississippi Medical Center,
Baptist GI
Jackson, MS

Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Brian Jacobson, MD, MPH, FASGE

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

Inessa Khaykis, MD, FASGE

Vanguard Gastroenterology
New York, NY

Mark Marino, MD

GI Alliance
(Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates)
Metairie, LA

Folasade P. May, MD, PhD, MPhil

UCLA Health
Los Angeles, CA

Doug Rex, MD, MASGE

Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN

Colleen Schmitt, MD, MHS, MASGE

Galen Medical Group
Chattanooga, TN

Edward Sun, MD, MBA, FASGE

Peconic Bay Medical Center,
Northwell Health
Riverhead, NY

Javelle Wynter, MD

Columbia University Medical Center
New York, NY

ASGE Support Staff

Donald J. Palmisano, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
Lakitia Mayo, Chief Policy and Member Engagement Officer
Siva Koppaka, SQL and iMIS Administrator (Project Database)
Tom Kornegay, Project Administrator