Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC), the nation's leading colorectal cancer advocacy organization is proud to announce the expansion of its Catalyst State-by-State Advocacy Program to include four additional states: Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri, and Nevada. These states are part of Fight CRC’s ongoing  commitment to support state-level advocacy efforts to increase access to life-saving colorectal cancer screening. 

The Catalyst Program, a cornerstone of Fight CRC's advocacy initiatives, supports state-level policy change through coalition building and grassroots advocacy. Molly McDonnell, Fight CRC's Director of Advocacy, expressed her enthusiasm about the program's expansion, saying, "Fight CRC is thrilled to add four new states to our Catalyst Program that represent diversity in patient populations, regions of the country, and political climates, all while having the same unwavering commitment to increasing access to colorectal cancer screening." 

Fight CRC provides funding and technical assistance that will lead to state-level legislative and policy changes. This year’s grants include: 

• Georgia: Ensuring all state-approved insurance plans fully cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45 and remove out-of-pocket costs for colonoscopy after an abnormal non-invasive test.
• Hawaii: Increasing screening in uninsured and underinsured populations by removing out- of- pocket costs for colonoscopy after an abnormal non-invasive screening test.
• Missouri: Increasing access to colorectal cancer screening by allowing pharmacists to provide education, information, and when appropriate, non-invasive screening options to patients.
• Nevada: Increasing colorectal cancer screening for low income, uninsured, and other medically underserved populations by ensuring Nevada Medicaid covers all available screening modalities.

This marks the fourth year of state-level grants through the Catalyst Program. Since launching the program in 2019, Fight CRC has supported advocacy efforts in 12 states and has had bills signed into law in eight states that will help ensure more people have access to colorectal cancer screening. 

One-third of eligible adults are not up to date with CRC screening. Unlike many other cancers, colorectal cancer is preventable if caught early enough. The Catalyst Program strives to ensure that patients have access to the full continuum of colorectal cancer screening. 

Funding for the program has been made possible through an unrestricted grant from Exact Sciences, a molecular diagnostics company with an initial focus on the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. 

For more information about the Catalyst State-by-State Advocacy Program, visit FightCRC.org/Catalyst. 

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