According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-most diagnosed and second-most deadly cancer in America. In 2017, approximately 135,000 people were diagnosed with CRC. And while death rates associated with CRC have declined for several decades, roughly 50,000 people succumb to the disease each year. CDC estimates that if all precancerous polyps were identified and removed before becoming cancerous, the number of new CRC cases could be reduced by 76 to 90 percent.

ASCs play a pivotal role in providing CRC screening, as many offer colonoscopy services in their communities at minimal or no cost for uninsured and under-insured patients. We encourage you to contact your federal legislators and urge them to support the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. If you would like to join ASCA on September 24, 2019, for its National Advocacy Day to advocate CRC screening, register now.

For more information on CRC screening, visit ASCA's colorectal cancer page or write Heather Ashby.

Jeff Evans is ASCA’s assistant director of government affairs, legislative affairs. Write him at jevans@ascassociation.org.