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Web-Assisted Audioconferences - 2004 Health Care Series 

Comprehensive Cancer Control: An Update on 2004 State Activity

February 25, 2004

In 2004, over 1.3 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States. The estimated overall cost for cancer in 2003 exceeded $189.5 billion. States are on the forefront of addressing many cancer prevention and control activities, yet programs are often built around specific cancers or risk-factors leading to challenges in coordination, duplication of efforts and missed opportunities. Comprehensive cancer control coordinates activities and maximizes resources allowing for improvements in public health and health care delivery, increased professional expertise, improved understanding of the complexities of delivering community-based screening services, and greater availability of program results through evaluation.

On June 30, 2003, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a major expansion of the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program-adding 26 new programs. With $12 million this year, CDC will support 51 comprehensive cancer control capacity building programs across the United States, including 5 tribes and tribal organizations.

This web-assisted audioconference will provide state policymakers and other key stakeholders with background information on the background and expansion of comprehensive cancer control activities, as well as state activity and policy.

NOTE: You can participate in this conference at your desk. You have three options:

1. Listen to the audio portion and view the slides using the Internet (this requires a sound card in your computer or other means for receiving the web audio). If you choose this option, you will be able to ensure that it works properly prior to the start of the event. Once you have connected to the event room, you will automatically hear music if your computer can receive web audio. Please note: You may experience a slight time delay for the audio portion.
2. Listen to the audio portion on the telephone and view the slides on your computer (this requires an internet connection separate from your phone line)
3. Print out speaker slides (they will be available 1-2 days before the event) and listen to the audio portion on the telephone.

Phyllis Rochester, PhD [slide show]
Lead, Evaluation Team, Program Services Branch
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Sara Miller [slide show]
Director of the Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Moderator:
Stephanie Wasserman
Program Principal
National Conference of State Legislatures

Please contact NCSL's Meeting Department at 303-364-7700, ext. 1430 for registration information or Stephanie Wasserman at stephanie.wasserman@ncsl.org or 303-856-1544 for program information. If you would like more information about cancer prevention and control, visit our website at www.ncsl.org/programs/health/cancerweb.htm.

In times of budget constraints and the growing population of uninsured, it is important to policymakers to invest what limited funds that are available into health programs and activities that are cost-effective but also produce good health outcomes. Of the 43.3 million uninsured Americans, over 11 percent (approximately 4.8 million) use community health centers (CHCs) as their medical home. According to several national studies, every dollar invested in community health center saves $7 for Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Additionally, the National Association of Community Health Centers reports that CHCs reduce or even eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. Can CHCs save money but still improve health outcomes? Are there specific examples of programs where these results have been seen?

This Web-assisted audioconference examines these and other questions about the cost-effectiveness and health outcomes of CHCs. Experts in this field will provide an overview of CHCs (populations served, services provided, cost of operation, health disparities collaboratives, cost savings and health outcomes) followed by presentations sharing two health disparities collaborative experiences in diabetes and depression.

• NCSL Slides
• Michelle Proser, Research and Data Analyst, National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., Washington, DC [Slide Show]
  Ms. Proser will provide an overview of CHCs and general information about the health disparities collaboratives.
• Jennifer Fabre, R.N., Clinic Coordinator, Teche Action Clinic, Louisiana [Slide Show]
  Ms. Fabre will be presenting about the diabetes collaborative.
• Michael S. Barr, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer, Baltimore Medical System, Maryland [Slide Show]
  Dr. Barr will be presenting about the depression collaborative.

Please contact Hy Gia Park at hygia.park@ncsl.org or 303-856-1482 with any questions. If you would like more information about community health centers, visit our website at www.ncsl.org/programs/health/communityhc.htm. Other resources you might be interested in:

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