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.