S. 5287: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act

This bill would let the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC, give competitive grants to states to increase awareness, education, and early detection of colorectal cancer, with a particular focus on people under age 45.

What the grants could be used for

• Public education and outreach about colorectal cancer, its symptoms, and risk factors.

• Targeting higher-risk young people, including those with a family history of colorectal cancer or advanced polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, inherited cancer syndromes such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis, or symptoms like rectal bleeding or iron-deficiency anemia.

• Reaching underserved populations, including people in rural areas, American Indian and Alaska Native people, African American people, and people with type 2 diabetes.

• Helping identify people who may need screening before age 45, while also educating others to begin early detection at age 45 if they are not at increased risk.

• Partnering with hospitals, clinics, Tribal organizations, nonprofits, colleges, and other relevant groups to expand outreach and screening efforts.

• Supporting early detection and diagnostic testing for young people at increased or high risk.

• Referrals and follow-up care, including genetic testing and counseling where appropriate.

• Training health professionals on screening, diagnostic tests, symptoms, family history, genetic risk, and care for younger patients.

• Quality monitoring and evaluation of screening and diagnostic services.

• Tracking risk factors and family history to better identify people who may be at higher risk.

• Patient navigation support to help people get through the screening process.

• Decision-support tools for clinicians based on clinical guidelines.

How the program would work

• States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories could apply for the grants.

• Grants would be awarded competitively.

• Each grant would last 5 years and could be renewed at the Secretary’s discretion.

• States would have to report back on how they used the money within 5 years of receiving the grant, including any renewal period.

• Funding would be provided at whatever level is necessary to carry out the program.

Relevant Companies

• None found