Federal Policy
We are on the ground in Washington, D.C., educating policymakers and ensuring the colorectal cancer
community is represented when and where policy is created.
We are dedicated to advocating for policy change that can bring us closer to a world without colorectal cancer.
Federal Policy
We are on the ground in Washington, D.C., educating policymakers and ensuring the colorectal cancer
community is represented when and where policy is created.
We are dedicated to advocating for policy change that can bring us closer to a world without colorectal cancer.
Our Federal Policy Priorities
Our priorities are driven by the needs of the colorectal cancer community, and we work relentlessly to drive meaningful change for all patients/survivors,
caregivers, and loved ones and to engage the community in our work.
Our Federal Policy Priorities
Our priorities are driven by the needs of the colorectal cancer community, and we work relentlessly to drive meaningful change for all patients/survivors,
caregivers, and loved ones and to engage the community in our work.
Funding for NIH & NCI
Our Priority: Increase funding for critical medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Background: The NIH is at the leading edge of breakthrough medical research in the United States and around the world. The NCI works on everything from essential research to clinical trials and advances scientific discovery and leads the cancer research community towards improved prevention and treatment options.
What We Are Doing: We work with partners across the healthcare space to advocate for predictable and sustained increases in funding for the NIH and NCI to ensure that groundbreaking cancer research programs can continue to operate at the highest levels.
Why This is Important
Funding for NIH & NCI
Our Priority: Increase funding for critical medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Background: The NIH is at the leading edge of breakthrough medical research in the United States and around the world. The NCI works on everything from essential research to clinical trials and advances scientific discovery and leads the cancer research community towards improved prevention and treatment options.
What We Are Doing: We work with partners across the healthcare space to advocate for predictable and sustained increases in funding for the NIH and NCI to ensure that groundbreaking cancer research programs can continue to operate at the highest levels.
Why This is Important
Access to Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are not a last resort; they are not only for those who have run out of other options; and they are not only for those with stage IV (metastatic) colorectal cancer or advanced disease. Clinical trials also address quality of life and symptom management, genetics and personalized medicine, and survivorship and long-term outcomes.
For many patients however, participation in clinical trials is not possible due to barriers like costs associated with travel and taking time off work.
What We Are Doing: We work with partners across the cancer and research space to advocate for policies that will increase access to clinical trials for all colorectal cancer patients.
Access to Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are not a last resort; they are not only for those who have run out of other options; and they are not only for those with stage IV (metastatic) colorectal cancer or advanced disease. Clinical trials also address quality of life and symptom management, genetics and personalized medicine, and survivorship and long-term outcomes.
For many patients however, participation in clinical trials is not possible due to barriers like costs associated with travel and taking time off work.
What We Are Doing: We work with partners across the cancer and research space to advocate for policies that will increase access to clinical trials for all colorectal cancer patients.
Prevention and Screening
CDC Colorectal Cancer Control Program
Our Priority: Increase funding for colorectal cancer screening in underserved communities through the CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP).
Why This is Important:
- There are approximately 44 million people in the U.S. that are eligible for colorectal cancer screening and as many as 1 in 3 are not up to date on screening.
- Despite the program’s success, it has not seen steady increases, making it difficult to keep up with inflation and expand to additional communities in need.
- Preventing colorectal cancer saves lives and money.
What We Are Doing: Asking for increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) in the FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bills.
Prevention and Screening
CDC Colorectal Cancer Control Program
Our Priority: Increase funding for colorectal cancer screening in underserved communities through the CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP).
Why This is Important:
- There are approximately 44 million people in the U.S. that are eligible for colorectal cancer screening and as many as 1 in 3 are not up to date on screening.
- Despite the program’s success, it has not seen steady increases, making it difficult to keep up with inflation and expand to additional communities in need.
- Preventing colorectal cancer saves lives and money.
What We Are Doing: Asking for increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) in the FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bills.
Ask us anything, anytime. Seriously. Text us at 318-242-8272 (318-CHATCRC).
Ask us anything, anytime. Seriously. Text us at 318-242-8272 (318-CHATCRC).
Access to Care
Removing Out-of-Pocket Costs for Follow-up Colonoscopies
Our Priority: Remove out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients who need a colonoscopy following an abnormal result on a non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test.
Background: While some consider colonoscopy to be the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening, there are also several noninvasive, at-home tests that also serve as good options for patients including: High sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (hs-gFOBT), Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), and Multitarget stool DNA test (i.e., Cologuard). Several blood-based screening tests are expected to be approved or have recently been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). When these non-invasive tests return a positive result, a follow-up colonoscopy is required to complete screening. In many cases patients may face out-of-pocket costs for these follow-up colonoscopies creating a significant barrier to receiving a complete colorectal cancer screening.
What We Are Doing: We are also working at the federal level to ensure these costs are removed for Medicare patients as well. We recently led an effort with partners across the colorectal cancer space urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover out of pocket costs for all follow-up colonoscopies after a non-invasive CRC screening test.
Why This is Important
Access to Care
Removing Out-of-Pocket Costs for Follow-up Colonoscopies
Our Priority: Remove out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients who need a colonoscopy following an abnormal result on a non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test.
Background: While some consider colonoscopy to be the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening, there are also several noninvasive, at-home tests that also serve as good options for patients including: High sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (hs-gFOBT), Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), and Multitarget stool DNA test (i.e., Cologuard). Several blood-based screening tests are expected to be approved or have recently been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). When these non-invasive tests return a positive result, a follow-up colonoscopy is required to complete screening. In many cases patients may face out-of-pocket costs for these follow-up colonoscopies creating a significant barrier to receiving a complete colorectal cancer screening.
What We Are Doing: We are also working at the federal level to ensure these costs are removed for Medicare patients as well. We recently led an effort with partners across the colorectal cancer space urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover out of pocket costs for all follow-up colonoscopies after a non-invasive CRC screening test.
Why This is Important
Policy Map!
We are also working through our Catalyst State-by-State Advocacy Program to pass legislation at the state level to remove out-of-pocket costs for follow-up colonoscopy. See our Colorectal Cancer Policy Map to explore state-by-state efforts to remove out of pocket costs for follow-up colonoscopies.
Policy Map!
We are also working through our Catalyst State-by-State Advocacy Program to pass legislation at the state level to remove out-of-pocket costs for follow-up colonoscopy. See our Colorectal Cancer Policy Map to explore state-by-state efforts to remove out of pocket costs for follow-up colonoscopies.
Additional Access to Care
Additional Access to Care
Ready to turn your pain into purpose? We will keep you updated on all the opportunities to get involved.
Ready to turn your pain into purpose? We will keep you updated on all the opportunities to get involved.
Caregiving and Survivorship
