Although much progress has been made in delivering cancer screening in the US, particularly for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, implementation remains suboptimal, particularly for populations experiencing systemic marginalization and economic disadvantage. Efforts to improve cancer screening implementation and reduce inequities are critical for achieving the goals of a just, high-performing health care system in the US.
In light of these challenges, Amboree and colleagues address an important and timely topic: implementation of cancer screening among patients in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).1 Their work demonstrates the degree to which gaps in cancer screening at the national and state level could be addressed through targeted efforts to increase screening in FQHC settings. Using two 2020 data sources (the Uniform Data System for aggregate FQHC screening data, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for national- and state-level screening usage), they found at best moderate rates of FQHC cancer screening (45.4% for breast, 51.0% for cervical, and 40.2% for colorectal cancer), considerably below overall national and state screening usage estimates. Furthermore, unscreened FQHC patients represent relatively large proportions of the national unscreened population: approximately one-sixth of unscreened persons for breast and colorectal cancer and almost one-third for cervical cancer.