Colorectal Cancer

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Colorectal Cancer

Task Force

Breaking News…

Colorado Cancer Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Tackle Young Onset Colorectal Cancer. 

Current law requires health insurance carriers (carriers) to provide preventive health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with U.S. preventive services task force guidelines. The bill requires carriers to instead provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with American Cancer Society guidelines. The coverage must include coverage for a colonoscopy or other medical test or procedure for colorectal cancer screening and a follow-up colonoscopy, if necessary, and coverage for high-risk individuals.

Next up: The bill will be read at the House Health and Insurance Committee on January 29 at 1:30 pm.

HB20-1103 Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage Latest Updates

Fact Sheet
Press Release
Bill Tracker

Task Force Mission

The Colorectal Cancer Task Force (CRC TF) is dedicated to decreasing the incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer in Colorado.  The primary goal of the TF is colorectal cancer prevention since colorectal cancer is a demonstrably preventable disease.  In the next two years our focus will be on saving lives through collaborative efforts to prevent colorectal cancer and reach the 80% by 2018 screening goal in Colorado.  We hope to address this issue in both the general population of Colorado but also to focus efforts on underserved and underscreened population including the uninsured, underinsured, low income group as well as those at increased colorectal cancer risk due to a family history of the disease.  The TF  provides a forum for networking of representatives from multiple private and public agencies in Colorado that focus on colorectal  cancer prevention and control.  The CRC TF helped write the colorectal cancer goals of the Colorado Cancer Plan.  It meets monthly to review progress on the Colorado Cancer Plan priorities, discuss policy issues, educate one another about existing programs, and create programmatic partnerships where gaps in service exist.

Co-Chairs

Mag Phillips, Co-Chair

Mag Phillips, Co-Chair

Contact Mag
Ian Kahn, Co-Chair

Ian Kahn, Co-Chair

Contact Ian

Member organizations

  • American Cancer Society
  • Colon Cancer Alliance
  • Colorado Colon and Rectal Specialists
  • Colorado Colorectal Screening Program
  • Colorado Community Health Network
  • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Denver Health and Medical Center
  • Gastroenterology of the Rockies
  • Lutheran (SCL Health)
  • Penrose Cancer Center
  • Sky Ridge Medical Center
  • Summit Community Care Clinic
  • University of Colorado Cancer Center

Task Force Action Plan

The Task Force created a 2 year Action Plan in May 2016.

Action Plan

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Download the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Media Kit

Early Screening Essential to CRC Prevention and Increasing Cure Rate

The Personal and Financial Value of an Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for Employers

CRC Awareness Month Resources 2017 – Support Groups and resources

80 by 2018 Pledge  – Take the pledge to embrace the shared goal of 80% screened by 2018.

Meeting Information

This Task Force meetings monthly. Sign up for updates using the button below. Or contact the Chairs using the buttons on the right to learn more.

Join the Colorectal Cancer Task Force

Task Force Meeting Minutes

Colorectal Cancer Task Force Current Work

Expanding Membership – Recruiting participants to strengthen the reach of the task force, including survivors, advocates, clinicians, researchers, employers, administrators, public health professionals, industry representatives, and more.
Provider Education – Developing educational tools and resources, including presentations, for various audiences: providers (specialty and primary), public, community, public health. Developing educational messages to engage diverse communities. Present to stakeholder groups about importance of colorectal cancer screening and spread awareness across the state. Support knowledge sharing about physician and practice education/outreach efforts.
Speaker’s Bureau – Coordinating with the Screening Coordinating Committee, identifying expert speakers to cover all cancers (including colorectal cancer) throughout the state. Creating presentation templates and directory of experts for speaker requests throughout the year. 
 
“Links of Care” Package – Creating a toolkit of information for interested partners to facilitate discussion and set up a system for donated colonoscopies with hospital systems in Colorado.
 
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Planning – Developing communication plan and task force specific outreach and events for March to promote Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. March 2017 Media can be accessed here.

In the News

Photographer, cancer survivor captures wildlife through the windows of his car

Colorectal Cancer Task Force Successes

FDA Approved Cologuard, a noninvasive colorectal cancer screening, is now a Medicare and Medicaid approved screening test. See slides – Cologuard Information

Signed the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s 80% by 2018 Pledge.

Members from the Colon Cancer Alliance presented the University of Colorado Cancer Center a check from the 2016 Undy for $52,000. The University of Colorado Cancer Center (in alliance with the Colorectal Cancer Task Force) has been able to provide over 350 no-cost screenings as a CCA Blue Hope Partner. Researchers with the University mentioned that 85% of those receiving these screenings identified as Hispanic and 20% are high-risk individuals under age 50.

Presented to the Colorado Business Group on Health in February 2017 to provide employers with tools and resources for employers who decide to take action to promote 80% screening by 2018.

Hosted a Candlelight Vigil in Denver in March 2017 to honor the progress made towards reducing the burden of colorectal cancer and to recognize all those touched by this devastating disease.