In a recent press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of $5 million for community health centers to increase equitable access to life-saving cancer screenings. Grant applications must be submitted through the grants.gov website by June 15.
The money, funded by HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration (HSRA), seeks to promote access to cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screenings at HSRA-funded community health centers. Eligible applicants are Health Center Program operational (H80) grant award recipients funded under sections 330(e), (g), (h), and/or (i) that partner with an NCI-designated Cancer Center. Additional details concerning the notice of funding opportunity, technical assistance information, and other resources can be found at the fiscal year 2022 Accelerating Cancer Screening technical assistance webpage.
The funding supports President Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative, which promotes early detection and treatment through cancer screening to reduce the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and support families living with and surviving cancer.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with nearly 600,000 deaths annually. Breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer can be prevented or detected early through appropriate screening and timely follow-up care. Yet, significant disparities exist in screening and follow-up care after an abnormal cancer screening test result, based on an individual's race or ethnicity, income, and insurance status.
HRSA-funded community health centers are uniquely positioned to engage and support underserved patients in overcoming all-too-common obstacles to accessing life-saving cancer screenings. In addition to helping health centers address and remove barriers to care, this funding will help increase the number of health center patients screened for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer. Also, with support from National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center partners, this funding will help ensure that health center patients have hands-on assistance accessing high quality cancer care and treatment, if needed.
If you have any questions about this program, please contact Michelle A. Williams, Mary Grace Griffin, Janice M. Suchyta, Aldo M. Leiva, Amy W. Schrader, Janelle E. Alleyne, or a member of Baker Donelson's Health Law Group.