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Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., but it is highly preventable through early detection. Health centers play a vital role in ensuring patients receive life-saving screenings, especially in underserved communities. Many people may not realize they are at risk or may face barriers to care, but health centers help bridge that gap by providing education, support, and screening options.
The Great Plains Health Data Network (GPHDN) has identified colorectal cancer screening as a clinical priority measure with a goal to increase screening rates across the network from 43 percent in 2023 to 50 percent by 2026. To support these efforts, the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD) will partner with select health centers in 2025 to pilot a colorectal cancer screening initiative. This project, in collaboration with Exact Sciences, will mail Cologuard kits to eligible patients, offering a convenient, at-home screening option. By expanding access to screening, health centers aim to increase early detection of colorectal cancer.
Additionally, the North Dakota Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (NDCRCSI) aims to reduce colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality. The North Dakota Department of Health offers this program to provide screening and diagnostic follow-up testing for age and income-eligible patients. For more information on connecting underinsured or uninsured patients to
screening opportunities, visit the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Colorectal Cancer Screening website. In South Dakota, the Department of Health’s Get Screened initiative provides valuable resources and programs to help clinics increase access to colorectal cancer screening. For information on screening options, resources, and
support in connecting patients to necessary screenings, visit the South Dakota Department of Health’s Get Screened website.
This Friday, March 7th, join us by wearing blue to raise awareness for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! By wearing blue, we show support for those affected, honor survivors, and encourage life-saving screenings. Early detection through routine screenings can make all the difference, so let’s spread the word and encourage our communities to take action. Wear blue, share your support, and help raise awareness this Friday!
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CRC Trends and Health Center Insights: Working Together We Can Increase CRC Screening
Join the American Cancer Society and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable for an in-depth discussion on the current state of colorectal cancer, highlighting the urgent need for screening in patients aged 45-55. This webinar will provide a comprehensive review of available tools and resources, along with an opportunity to share best practices for improving screening efforts. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights and learn actionable strategies to help increase early detection and save
lives!
Thursday, March 27
12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT
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Health
Centers in the News
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The 8th Biennial Report on Health Issues for North Dakota describes trends in ND’s health and describes Federally Qualified Health Centers as, “key safety net facilities,” as stated by UND Today.
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Take
Action! Federal Health Center Funding Expires this Month
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Your advocacy is needed to urge Congress to pass a budget before the March 14 deadline and to make sure full annual funding for health centers is included in the final legislation.
Call or email Congress today and ask them to pass long-term stable funding for health centers, invest in the primary care workforce to address shortages, and expand telehealth to improve access to care.
Help spread the word! Ask 5 other people to make calls and send emails about these important topics.
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The North Dakota Cancer Coalition is excited to invite North Dakota and South Dakota health center members and partners to the upcoming EHR Workshop Series, organized by the EHR Superusers Workgroup of the North Dakota Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. This series is designed to empower clinic teams to effectively leverage their workforce and Electronic Health Records system to improve Colorectal Cancer screening rates.
Session 3: Development of a Follow-up Measure to Ensure Complete Screening for Colorectal Cancer
Presenter: Elizabeth Ciemans, PhD, MPH, MA, Senior VP Research and Analytics at AGMA
Date: March 12 | 12:00 pm CT
Understand the need for a quality performance measure for appropriate follow-up after an abnormal stool-based screening test for CRC. Learn how you can contribute to the measure and become an early adopter.
Session 4: Team Approach to Quality Improvement
Presenters: Kari Novak, LPN; Kristen Pastorek, RN; and Merideth Bell, BME; Unity Medical Center
Date: March 17 | 12:00-12:45 pm CT
Discover the key steps and strategies used by Unity Medical Center to achieve impressive results in their CRC screening initiative. Learn how to build a dynamic team and utilize effective tools for significant improvements.
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Monthly
Navigator Come-and-Go Event
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Get Covered South Dakota Navigators will be available at local events once a month for the remainder of 2025 for all your health insurance needs. Whether you want to clarify a question or want to complete your enrollment in-person, we’re here for you!
Check out the first event on Wednesday, March 26 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Oak View Branch in Sioux Falls, SD.
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North
Dakota Preventative Health & Health Services Block Grant
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The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is excited to share two new funding opportunities under the Preventive Health and Health
Services (PHHS) Block Grant. These opportunities are aimed at improving health outcomes and promoting wellness through projects aligned with the North Dakota State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP).
Submission Deadline: April 4, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. CST
This funding opportunity supports projects that focus on promoting overall wellness and improving health outcomes for North Dakotans. Projects must address objectives from Healthy People 2030 in areas such as economic stability, education access, healthcare access, social/community context, and the built environment.
Eligible Applicants:
2. Expanding Access & Connection
This funding opportunity supports projects that focus on addressing gaps in essential healthcare services, such as primary care, cardiac care, oral health, cancer screening, and chronic disease management. Projects must aim to connect individuals to appropriate health care and/or social services, in alignment with the goals outlined in Healthy People 2030.
Eligible Applicants:
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New
Medicare Guidance on Billing for Vaccines at the Time of Service
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Starting in July, Medicare will begin paying federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) the Fee Schedule rate for administered vaccines soon after the time of service. These interim payments will be reconciled against actual costs during the Cost Report process.
Beginning July 1, 2025, FQHCs can bill for all 4 types of Part B preventive vaccines— pneumococcal, influenza, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines and their administration—at the time of service with or without a qualifying visit.
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DRVS' Best Kept Secrets
Have you ever attended a webinar and thought to yourself, "Since when is that available?!". The power of DRVS is so vast that despite all the webinars we host, and all the trainings we deliver, we still can’t highlight all of the functionality available to you. Join this webinar to learn about some of DRVS’ best kept secrets – not secrets we’re intentionally
keeping, but rather secrets we’re eager to share with the world! Come prepared to learn about DRVS tools that can make valuable information available to your end users, simplify your reporting processes, and improve your ability to track changes in health outcomes across your population. Many of these features are permission-based and available to individuals with administrative capabilities.
Thursday, March 6
1:00 pm CT / 12:00 pm MT
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Foundations of Success: Creating Structure to Support Value-Based Care
When we try to define “success”, we often think of the final outcomes: increased quality measures, improved patient outcomes, realized shared savings. But the roadmap to success can be less well-defined. This webinar will tackle how to create a structural approach to driving improvement: from understanding patient attribution and engagement to defining care team
workflows and data documentation. Attendees will be able to walk away with concrete ideas to support an integrated and data-driven approach to increasing quality measures and patient outcomes.
Tuesday, March 11
12:00 pm CT / 11:00 am MT
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Best Practices for Providing Well Visits Through the Years
In many ways, Annual Wellness Visits serve as the backbone of primary care. These visits are essential to not only gaining valuable information about the patient, including medical and family history, risk factors, and vitals, but also to developing a personalized relationship and care plan with the patients. Annual Wellness Visits are required across the age continuum,
and yet many patients go without receiving a visit. Join this webinar to learn more about the strategies health centers can leverage to increase their annual wellness visit rates, and the functionality within DRVS that can support you carrying out these efforts.
Tuesday, March 18
12:00 pm CT / 11:00 am MT
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Reflecting on UDS: Lessons Learned in February
Get ready to take a deep dive into UDS with Azara Support. During this webinar, Application Support Team Lead, Meg Carley, will take us on a walk down memory lane. Meg will speak on common questions, the total number of tickets received, and introduce some best practice considerations to prepare for UDS 2024 (too soon?). This webinar is recommended for team members
involved in UDS reporting, data quality management, and quality improvement efforts.
Thursday, March 20
1:00 pm CT / 12:00 pm MT
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This account is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling
$1,423,637.00 with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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