Aja McCutchen, MD

The ethical imperative in healthcare necessitates equitable delivery of care to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or insurance coverage. This principle is rooted in the concept of justice and is crucial to achieving health equity.

As gastroenterologists, despite our various practice settings, we have seen the harmful effects of economic and social disparities on health outcomes. We must therefore ensure that we acknowledge the existence of these disparities, and then begin to provide a framework that allows us to ethically and successfully navigate these complexities for our patients and our affiliated structures.

RaShun Focus Minded Photo

The following cases illustrate the complexities and ethical dilemmas that gastroenterology and hepatology healthcare professionals encounter in delivering care within the traditional healthcare system.

• Case 1: A 44-year-old male presents to the hospital with intermittent rectal bleeding every few weeks without associated abdominal pain or weight loss and not associated with straining. He has bowel movements every 2-3 days. There is no family history of underlying gastrointestinal disease or associated neoplasm. He is accompanied at the time of the interview by his coworker who offered to drive him to the hospital as he is having personal car trouble. Physical examination reveals normal hemodynamics, abdomen is benign, a digital rectal exam reveals small internal hemorrhoids without pain. Hemoglobin is 10, MCV 85. There is scant blood on the glove. He is uninsured. A GI consult is placed to determine the disposition of the patient. The resident on service suggests outpatient follow-up given low risk of clinical deterioration.
• Case 2: A 28-year-old woman postpartum 6 weeks presents in the office with a history of ulcerative colitis which was diagnosed 2 years prior. She was initially placed on steroid therapy. She underwent a colonoscopy at the time of her diagnosis and was following with a gastroenterologist at which time she was found to have moderate left-sided disease with a modified Mayo score of 9. She complains of urgency and rectal bleeding. She saw a gastroenterologist during her pregnancy and was placed on oral mesalamine, which she remains on at the time of evaluation. Once her physical examination is completed and laboratory values are reviewed, you begin to discuss advanced therapies including biologics as she has failed conventional therapies.
• Case 3: You receive a phone call from an outside hospital about a potential transfer for a 46-year-old male who is an immigrant of unknown citizenship status with fulminant liver failure. He meets all criteria including encephalopathy and coagulopathy. He drinks only socially. His secondary liver workup for extensive disease including ceruloplasmin remains pending. Viral hepatology serologies and autoimmune serologies are negative.

Challenges to the Delivery of Equitable Care

These cases underscore the challenges of delivering equitable care within a system that often fails to address the social determinants of health (SDOH). The disparity in the evaluation and treatment of patients based on insurance status not only affects patient outcomes, but also emphasizes the ethical dilemma of balancing cost with population health management.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

The introduction of measures SDOH-1 and SDOH-2 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the 2023 IPPS Final Rule is a step towards requiring hospitals to systematically collect patient-level SDOH data, aiming to establish meaningful collaborations between healthcare providers and community-based organizations for whole-person care.¹ The primary goal is to allow ecosystems to collect patient-level social risk factors followed by the creation of meaningful collaboration between healthcare providers and the community-based organizations.

The office settings may or may not implement the SDOH and the current electronic medical record systems. However, from a social history standpoint and certainly from a decision standpoint, the impact of SDOH is realized in all settings.
 

Interplay of SDOH and Ethical Considerations

The recognition of social determinants of health is crucial for ethical healthcare delivery. In the first case, considering the patient’s identified social determinants of health — including lack of insurance and transportation, combined with the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in individuals under 55 — an argument could be made for admitting the patient under observation for inpatient colonoscopy.

Data have shown disparities in treatment and referrals in emergency care setting for Black patients with rectal bleeding.² It is imperative that we recognize these existing disparities in diagnosis and outcomes, along with determining SDOH to appropriately come to a final disposition. This approach aligns with the principle of justice and the imperative to deliver equitable care.

In the third case study, we have a patient facing the life-or-death situation of fulminant liver failure. He requires an expeditious decision to be made about transfer candidacy for liver transplant evaluation by the hepatology team.
 

Impact of Insurance Status on Healthcare Access

Insurance status significantly influences access to healthcare and disparities in treatment outcomes. As seen in case 2 and case 3, our therapies often hinge upon access.

In the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) case, the therapy that we will choose for our IBD patient may be more influenced by access than efficacy. In a national sample of children with Crohn’s disease, publicly insured children were more likely to receive a biologic within 18 months of diagnosis compared to children with private insurance.³ This would suggest that those with private insurance perhaps experience increased barriers.

In the IBD case that we presented here, we do have a publicly insured woman who will face a potential loss of her Medicaid coverage. Our therapeutic decision will therefore not just rely on risk stratification and individualized approach, but rather the programs that are put in place by our pharmaceutical partners to support a future self-pay patient. This may or may not be favorable to her outcome. This discrepancy points to systemic inequalities in healthcare access and the need for policies that ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of insurance status.
 

Conclusion

The delivery of care in healthcare is an ethical imperative that demands equity and justice. The cases discussed above illustrate the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors, insurance status, and the ethical challenges in providing equitable care.

Systematic efforts to address social determinants of health, as mandated by recent CMS measures, along with a commitment to ethical principles, are essential steps toward reducing disparities and ensuring that all individuals receive the care they need. As healthcare expenditures continue to rise, particularly in areas like gastrointestinal health, addressing these ethical and systemic challenges becomes even more critical for the sustainability of the healthcare system and the well-being of the population it serves.

Gastrointestinal healthcare expenditures totaled $119.6 billion in 2018. Annually there were more than 36.8 million ambulatory visits for GI symptoms and 43.4 million ambulatory visits with primary GI diagnosis.⁴ The use of higher-acuity settings and lack of continuity of care, and the under-recognition and lack of longitudinal framework to follow those families at risk continue to compromise our healthcare system. We must begin to create a framework to provide equitable care for which the cornerstone should be those identified social determinants of health.

Dr. McCutchen is a gastroenterologist at United Digestive, Atlanta, Georgia. She is vice chair of the AGA Research Foundation. Dr. Boules is vice president of global medical and scientific affairs at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Cleveland, Ohio.

References

1. www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-10/pdf/2022-16472.pdf.

2. Shields HM et al. Disparities in evaluation of patients with rectal bleeding 40 years and older. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 Apr. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2013.07.008.

3. Quiros JA et al. Insurance type influences access to biologics and healthcare utilization in pediatric Crohn’s disease. Crohns Colitis 360. 2021 Aug. doi: 10.1093/crocol/otab057.

4. Peery AF et al. Burden and cost of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States: Update 2021. Gastroenterology. 2022 Feb. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.017.

The ethical imperative in healthcare necessitates equitable delivery of care to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or insurance coverage. This principle is rooted in the concept of justice and is crucial to achieving health equity.

As gastroenterologists, despite our various practice settings, we have seen the harmful effects of economic and social disparities on health outcomes. We must therefore ensure that we acknowledge the existence of these disparities, and then begin to provide a framework that allows us to ethically and successfully navigate these complexities for our patients and our affiliated structures.

RaShun Focus Minded Photo

The following cases illustrate the complexities and ethical dilemmas that gastroenterology and hepatology healthcare professionals encounter in delivering care within the traditional healthcare system.

• Case 1: A 44-year-old male presents to the hospital with intermittent rectal bleeding every few weeks without associated abdominal pain or weight loss and not associated with straining. He has bowel movements every 2-3 days. There is no family history of underlying gastrointestinal disease or associated neoplasm. He is accompanied at the time of the interview by his coworker who offered to drive him to the hospital as he is having personal car trouble. Physical examination reveals normal hemodynamics, abdomen is benign, a digital rectal exam reveals small internal hemorrhoids without pain. Hemoglobin is 10, MCV 85. There is scant blood on the glove. He is uninsured. A GI consult is placed to determine the disposition of the patient. The resident on service suggests outpatient follow-up given low risk of clinical deterioration.
• Case 2: A 28-year-old woman postpartum 6 weeks presents in the office with a history of ulcerative colitis which was diagnosed 2 years prior. She was initially placed on steroid therapy. She underwent a colonoscopy at the time of her diagnosis and was following with a gastroenterologist at which time she was found to have moderate left-sided disease with a modified Mayo score of 9. She complains of urgency and rectal bleeding. She saw a gastroenterologist during her pregnancy and was placed on oral mesalamine, which she remains on at the time of evaluation. Once her physical examination is completed and laboratory values are reviewed, you begin to discuss advanced therapies including biologics as she has failed conventional therapies.
• Case 3: You receive a phone call from an outside hospital about a potential transfer for a 46-year-old male who is an immigrant of unknown citizenship status with fulminant liver failure. He meets all criteria including encephalopathy and coagulopathy. He drinks only socially. His secondary liver workup for extensive disease including ceruloplasmin remains pending. Viral hepatology serologies and autoimmune serologies are negative.

Challenges to the Delivery of Equitable Care

These cases underscore the challenges of delivering equitable care within a system that often fails to address the social determinants of health (SDOH). The disparity in the evaluation and treatment of patients based on insurance status not only affects patient outcomes, but also emphasizes the ethical dilemma of balancing cost with population health management.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

The introduction of measures SDOH-1 and SDOH-2 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the 2023 IPPS Final Rule is a step towards requiring hospitals to systematically collect patient-level SDOH data, aiming to establish meaningful collaborations between healthcare providers and community-based organizations for whole-person care.¹ The primary goal is to allow ecosystems to collect patient-level social risk factors followed by the creation of meaningful collaboration between healthcare providers and the community-based organizations.

The office settings may or may not implement the SDOH and the current electronic medical record systems. However, from a social history standpoint and certainly from a decision standpoint, the impact of SDOH is realized in all settings.
 

Interplay of SDOH and Ethical Considerations

The recognition of social determinants of health is crucial for ethical healthcare delivery. In the first case, considering the patient’s identified social determinants of health — including lack of insurance and transportation, combined with the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in individuals under 55 — an argument could be made for admitting the patient under observation for inpatient colonoscopy.

Data have shown disparities in treatment and referrals in emergency care setting for Black patients with rectal bleeding.² It is imperative that we recognize these existing disparities in diagnosis and outcomes, along with determining SDOH to appropriately come to a final disposition. This approach aligns with the principle of justice and the imperative to deliver equitable care.

In the third case study, we have a patient facing the life-or-death situation of fulminant liver failure. He requires an expeditious decision to be made about transfer candidacy for liver transplant evaluation by the hepatology team.
 

Impact of Insurance Status on Healthcare Access

Insurance status significantly influences access to healthcare and disparities in treatment outcomes. As seen in case 2 and case 3, our therapies often hinge upon access.

In the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) case, the therapy that we will choose for our IBD patient may be more influenced by access than efficacy. In a national sample of children with Crohn’s disease, publicly insured children were more likely to receive a biologic within 18 months of diagnosis compared to children with private insurance.³ This would suggest that those with private insurance perhaps experience increased barriers.

In the IBD case that we presented here, we do have a publicly insured woman who will face a potential loss of her Medicaid coverage. Our therapeutic decision will therefore not just rely on risk stratification and individualized approach, but rather the programs that are put in place by our pharmaceutical partners to support a future self-pay patient. This may or may not be favorable to her outcome. This discrepancy points to systemic inequalities in healthcare access and the need for policies that ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of insurance status.
 

Conclusion

The delivery of care in healthcare is an ethical imperative that demands equity and justice. The cases discussed above illustrate the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors, insurance status, and the ethical challenges in providing equitable care.

Systematic efforts to address social determinants of health, as mandated by recent CMS measures, along with a commitment to ethical principles, are essential steps toward reducing disparities and ensuring that all individuals receive the care they need. As healthcare expenditures continue to rise, particularly in areas like gastrointestinal health, addressing these ethical and systemic challenges becomes even more critical for the sustainability of the healthcare system and the well-being of the population it serves.

Gastrointestinal healthcare expenditures totaled $119.6 billion in 2018. Annually there were more than 36.8 million ambulatory visits for GI symptoms and 43.4 million ambulatory visits with primary GI diagnosis.⁴ The use of higher-acuity settings and lack of continuity of care, and the under-recognition and lack of longitudinal framework to follow those families at risk continue to compromise our healthcare system. We must begin to create a framework to provide equitable care for which the cornerstone should be those identified social determinants of health.

Dr. McCutchen is a gastroenterologist at United Digestive, Atlanta, Georgia. She is vice chair of the AGA Research Foundation. Dr. Boules is vice president of global medical and scientific affairs at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Cleveland, Ohio.

References

1. www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-10/pdf/2022-16472.pdf.

2. Shields HM et al. Disparities in evaluation of patients with rectal bleeding 40 years and older. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 Apr. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2013.07.008.

3. Quiros JA et al. Insurance type influences access to biologics and healthcare utilization in pediatric Crohn’s disease. Crohns Colitis 360. 2021 Aug. doi: 10.1093/crocol/otab057.

4. Peery AF et al. Burden and cost of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States: Update 2021. Gastroenterology. 2022 Feb. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.017.

The ethical imperative in healthcare necessitates equitable delivery of care to all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or insurance coverage. This principle is rooted in the concept of justice and is crucial to achieving health equity.

As gastroenterologists, despite our various practice settings, we have seen the harmful effects of economic and social disparities on health outcomes. We must therefore ensure that we acknowledge the existence of these disparities, and then begin to provide a framework that allows us to ethically and successfully navigate these complexities for our patients and our affiliated structures.

RaShun Focus Minded Photo

The following cases illustrate the complexities and ethical dilemmas that gastroenterology and hepatology healthcare professionals encounter in delivering care within the traditional healthcare system.

• Case 1: A 44-year-old male presents to the hospital with intermittent rectal bleeding every few weeks without associated abdominal pain or weight loss and not associated with straining. He has bowel movements every 2-3 days. There is no family history of underlying gastrointestinal disease or associated neoplasm. He is accompanied at the time of the interview by his coworker who offered to drive him to the hospital as he is having personal car trouble. Physical examination reveals normal hemodynamics, abdomen is benign, a digital rectal exam reveals small internal hemorrhoids without pain. Hemoglobin is 10, MCV 85. There is scant blood on the glove. He is uninsured. A GI consult is placed to determine the disposition of the patient. The resident on service suggests outpatient follow-up given low risk of clinical deterioration.
• Case 2: A 28-year-old woman postpartum 6 weeks presents in the office with a history of ulcerative colitis which was diagnosed 2 years prior. She was initially placed on steroid therapy. She underwent a colonoscopy at the time of her diagnosis and was following with a gastroenterologist at which time she was found to have moderate left-sided disease with a modified Mayo score of 9. She complains of urgency and rectal bleeding. She saw a gastroenterologist during her pregnancy and was placed on oral mesalamine, which she remains on at the time of evaluation. Once her physical examination is completed and laboratory values are reviewed, you begin to discuss advanced therapies including biologics as she has failed conventional therapies.
• Case 3: You receive a phone call from an outside hospital about a potential transfer for a 46-year-old male who is an immigrant of unknown citizenship status with fulminant liver failure. He meets all criteria including encephalopathy and coagulopathy. He drinks only socially. His secondary liver workup for extensive disease including ceruloplasmin remains pending. Viral hepatology serologies and autoimmune serologies are negative.

Challenges to the Delivery of Equitable Care

These cases underscore the challenges of delivering equitable care within a system that often fails to address the social determinants of health (SDOH). The disparity in the evaluation and treatment of patients based on insurance status not only affects patient outcomes, but also emphasizes the ethical dilemma of balancing cost with population health management.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

The introduction of measures SDOH-1 and SDOH-2 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the 2023 IPPS Final Rule is a step towards requiring hospitals to systematically collect patient-level SDOH data, aiming to establish meaningful collaborations between healthcare providers and community-based organizations for whole-person care.¹ The primary goal is to allow ecosystems to collect patient-level social risk factors followed by the creation of meaningful collaboration between healthcare providers and the community-based organizations.

The office settings may or may not implement the SDOH and the current electronic medical record systems. However, from a social history standpoint and certainly from a decision standpoint, the impact of SDOH is realized in all settings.
 

Interplay of SDOH and Ethical Considerations

The recognition of social determinants of health is crucial for ethical healthcare delivery. In the first case, considering the patient’s identified social determinants of health — including lack of insurance and transportation, combined with the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in individuals under 55 — an argument could be made for admitting the patient under observation for inpatient colonoscopy.

Data have shown disparities in treatment and referrals in emergency care setting for Black patients with rectal bleeding.² It is imperative that we recognize these existing disparities in diagnosis and outcomes, along with determining SDOH to appropriately come to a final disposition. This approach aligns with the principle of justice and the imperative to deliver equitable care.

In the third case study, we have a patient facing the life-or-death situation of fulminant liver failure. He requires an expeditious decision to be made about transfer candidacy for liver transplant evaluation by the hepatology team.
 

Impact of Insurance Status on Healthcare Access

Insurance status significantly influences access to healthcare and disparities in treatment outcomes. As seen in case 2 and case 3, our therapies often hinge upon access.

In the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) case, the therapy that we will choose for our IBD patient may be more influenced by access than efficacy. In a national sample of children with Crohn’s disease, publicly insured children were more likely to receive a biologic within 18 months of diagnosis compared to children with private insurance.³ This would suggest that those with private insurance perhaps experience increased barriers.

In the IBD case that we presented here, we do have a publicly insured woman who will face a potential loss of her Medicaid coverage. Our therapeutic decision will therefore not just rely on risk stratification and individualized approach, but rather the programs that are put in place by our pharmaceutical partners to support a future self-pay patient. This may or may not be favorable to her outcome. This discrepancy points to systemic inequalities in healthcare access and the need for policies that ensure equitable treatment for all, regardless of insurance status.
 

Conclusion

The delivery of care in healthcare is an ethical imperative that demands equity and justice. The cases discussed above illustrate the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors, insurance status, and the ethical challenges in providing equitable care.

Systematic efforts to address social determinants of health, as mandated by recent CMS measures, along with a commitment to ethical principles, are essential steps toward reducing disparities and ensuring that all individuals receive the care they need. As healthcare expenditures continue to rise, particularly in areas like gastrointestinal health, addressing these ethical and systemic challenges becomes even more critical for the sustainability of the healthcare system and the well-being of the population it serves.

Gastrointestinal healthcare expenditures totaled $119.6 billion in 2018. Annually there were more than 36.8 million ambulatory visits for GI symptoms and 43.4 million ambulatory visits with primary GI diagnosis.⁴ The use of higher-acuity settings and lack of continuity of care, and the under-recognition and lack of longitudinal framework to follow those families at risk continue to compromise our healthcare system. We must begin to create a framework to provide equitable care for which the cornerstone should be those identified social determinants of health.

Dr. McCutchen is a gastroenterologist at United Digestive, Atlanta, Georgia. She is vice chair of the AGA Research Foundation. Dr. Boules is vice president of global medical and scientific affairs at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Cleveland, Ohio.

References

1. www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-10/pdf/2022-16472.pdf.

2. Shields HM et al. Disparities in evaluation of patients with rectal bleeding 40 years and older. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 Apr. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2013.07.008.

3. Quiros JA et al. Insurance type influences access to biologics and healthcare utilization in pediatric Crohn’s disease. Crohns Colitis 360. 2021 Aug. doi: 10.1093/crocol/otab057.

4. Peery AF et al. Burden and cost of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States: Update 2021. Gastroenterology. 2022 Feb. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.017.

Each year in the month of March, advocates, physicians, and health care educators come together to promote the importance of colorectal cancer screening during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As independent GI physicians, we work within our communities to promote colorectal screening year-round.

We also understand that our education efforts do not end with the people in our community who need to be screened. Independent GI practices also engage with primary care physicians who often initiate conversations about available screening tests and when people should be screened.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.¹ It is expected to kill more than 50,000 Americans this year alone.² This is why screening for colorectal cancer is so important. The American Cancer Society recommends screening for all average-risk patients aged 45-75 years.³

The good news? If caught early, the survival rate is very high. In fact, when caught early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. Unfortunately, one in three Americans who are eligible for screenings do not get screened. For certain groups, there are larger numbers of people who are not getting screened. And there are groups for whom the death rates from colorectal cancer are much higher.
 

Disparities in colorectal cancer screenings

According to the American Cancer Society, Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to receive prompt follow up after an abnormal CRC screening result and are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer.⁴ African Americans have the highest death rate when compared with all other racial groups in the United States. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the only groups for which CRC death rates are not declining.

There are many factors that drive disparities, but the main factors seem to be socioeconomic status and differences in access to early detection and treatment. While some of these issues are complex and difficult to change, increasing awareness and providing education can be easier than you might think.
 

Working with your community as a private GI practitioner

To address economic factors, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates has a program that provides resources on a sliding fee scale to people in our community who do not have insurance and are concerned about having to pay for CRC screening out of pocket. This includes the costs for anesthesia, colonoscopy, and pathology services.

We also have a Direct Access Program, which allows people to self-schedule a screening and fill out a survey that assesses their candidacy for screening colonoscopy. This allows our patients to bypass an initial prescreening office visit and associated copays. Patients are provided instructions for colonoscopy prep and show up for the colonoscopy on the day of their procedure. When the colonoscopy is completed, we give them a patient education card on CRC screening to share with friends and family members who need to be screened.

Atlanta is a very diverse city, and representation is important. But, fortunately, the size of Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates allows us to have representation within many communities. We attend a significant number of health fairs and community events, many of which are sourced internally. Our physicians and staff are members of churches and social groups that we work with to provide screening materials and conduct informational events.

Word of mouth is the best advertising, and it works the same way with health education. There are a lot of myths that we must debunk. And in many of our communities, people are worrying about paying the bills to keep the lights on – they are not thinking about getting screened. But, if they hear from a friend or family member that their screening colonoscopy was a good experience and that resources were provided to help pay for the procedure, it really does make a difference.

You do not need to join a large practice to have an impact. All over the country, there are community groups working to increase screening rates, and engaging with those groups is a good start. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all using social media and other platforms to connect. You do not need a lot of resources to set up a Zoom meeting with people in your community to discuss CRC screening.
 

Engaging with referring physicians

As a private practice practitioner, part of growing your practice is engaging with the primary care physicians in your area to ensure that they are up to date on the latest research in CRC screening and that they are discussing available screening options with their patients.

Preventing cancer should always be our first goal. Most CRCs begin as a polyp. Finding, quantifying, localizing, and removing polyps through screening colonoscopy is the most effective strategy for preventing this cancer. That is why colonoscopy remains the preferred method for colon cancer screening.

The Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends that, in sequential approaches, physicians should offer colonoscopy first.⁵ For patients who decline to have a colonoscopy, the FIT test should be offered next, followed by second-tier tests such as Cologuard and CT colonography for patients who decline both first-tier options.

Beyond the science of colorectal screening, we want to make sure that our primary care partners are aware of the disparities that exist – and which patients are at higher risk – so that they can engage with their patients to encourage screening.

For example, in our practice, we work with local Asian American community groups to help make sure that the “model minority” myth – that Asian Americans are healthier, wealthier, and better educated than the average American – does not become a barrier to screening. While Asian Americans may have lower overall rates of some types of cancer, there are some cancers that disproportionately affect certain Asian American groups. Rates of CRC in Japanese men, for instance, are 23% higher than in non-Hispanic Whites.

Additionally, we work with our primary care colleagues to help them understand that patients may have insurance considerations when choosing a test. While insurance typically covers 100% of a preventive screening test, a follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test is considered a diagnostic or therapeutic service and may not be fully covered. Medicare patients may face a coinsurance bill after their follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test. Legislation was passed last year to remove this barrier, but Medicare beneficiaries may have some out-of-pocket costs until it is completely removed in 2030.
 

Are you joining a practice that supports CRC education? Just ask!

We all want to work for an organization that aligns with our core values, and for GI physicians like us, CRC screening is a core component of our everyday work.

If you are considering joining a private practice, ask how the practice is doing with their CRC awareness programs and if it leads to increases in screenings. Inquire about the groups that are being engaged with and why. Is the practice focused on communities that have disparities in screening and treatment, and is it able to complete the entire screening process for individuals in communities that are more adversely affected by colorectal cancer?

We have found that candidates who have the most success in our practice are people who want to work at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates but are also active in their communities and have a sense of how they want to be of service in their community. It is a sign of leadership in people – the idea that they are really going to get out and network and build a practice that serves everyone in their community. These actions make a difference in getting more people screened and in decreasing the disparities that exist.

Dr. Aja McCutchen is the chair of the quality committee at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates and serves as chair of the Digestive Health Physicians Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She reports having nothing to disclose.

References

1. Siegel RL et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jan;68(1):7-30.

2. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer.org.

3. Wolf AMD et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jul;68(4):250-281.

4. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022.

5. Rex DK et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(7):1016-30.

Each year in the month of March, advocates, physicians, and health care educators come together to promote the importance of colorectal cancer screening during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As independent GI physicians, we work within our communities to promote colorectal screening year-round.

We also understand that our education efforts do not end with the people in our community who need to be screened. Independent GI practices also engage with primary care physicians who often initiate conversations about available screening tests and when people should be screened.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.¹ It is expected to kill more than 50,000 Americans this year alone.² This is why screening for colorectal cancer is so important. The American Cancer Society recommends screening for all average-risk patients aged 45-75 years.³

The good news? If caught early, the survival rate is very high. In fact, when caught early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. Unfortunately, one in three Americans who are eligible for screenings do not get screened. For certain groups, there are larger numbers of people who are not getting screened. And there are groups for whom the death rates from colorectal cancer are much higher.
 

Disparities in colorectal cancer screenings

According to the American Cancer Society, Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to receive prompt follow up after an abnormal CRC screening result and are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer.⁴ African Americans have the highest death rate when compared with all other racial groups in the United States. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the only groups for which CRC death rates are not declining.

There are many factors that drive disparities, but the main factors seem to be socioeconomic status and differences in access to early detection and treatment. While some of these issues are complex and difficult to change, increasing awareness and providing education can be easier than you might think.
 

Working with your community as a private GI practitioner

To address economic factors, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates has a program that provides resources on a sliding fee scale to people in our community who do not have insurance and are concerned about having to pay for CRC screening out of pocket. This includes the costs for anesthesia, colonoscopy, and pathology services.

We also have a Direct Access Program, which allows people to self-schedule a screening and fill out a survey that assesses their candidacy for screening colonoscopy. This allows our patients to bypass an initial prescreening office visit and associated copays. Patients are provided instructions for colonoscopy prep and show up for the colonoscopy on the day of their procedure. When the colonoscopy is completed, we give them a patient education card on CRC screening to share with friends and family members who need to be screened.

Atlanta is a very diverse city, and representation is important. But, fortunately, the size of Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates allows us to have representation within many communities. We attend a significant number of health fairs and community events, many of which are sourced internally. Our physicians and staff are members of churches and social groups that we work with to provide screening materials and conduct informational events.

Word of mouth is the best advertising, and it works the same way with health education. There are a lot of myths that we must debunk. And in many of our communities, people are worrying about paying the bills to keep the lights on – they are not thinking about getting screened. But, if they hear from a friend or family member that their screening colonoscopy was a good experience and that resources were provided to help pay for the procedure, it really does make a difference.

You do not need to join a large practice to have an impact. All over the country, there are community groups working to increase screening rates, and engaging with those groups is a good start. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all using social media and other platforms to connect. You do not need a lot of resources to set up a Zoom meeting with people in your community to discuss CRC screening.
 

Engaging with referring physicians

As a private practice practitioner, part of growing your practice is engaging with the primary care physicians in your area to ensure that they are up to date on the latest research in CRC screening and that they are discussing available screening options with their patients.

Preventing cancer should always be our first goal. Most CRCs begin as a polyp. Finding, quantifying, localizing, and removing polyps through screening colonoscopy is the most effective strategy for preventing this cancer. That is why colonoscopy remains the preferred method for colon cancer screening.

The Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends that, in sequential approaches, physicians should offer colonoscopy first.⁵ For patients who decline to have a colonoscopy, the FIT test should be offered next, followed by second-tier tests such as Cologuard and CT colonography for patients who decline both first-tier options.

Beyond the science of colorectal screening, we want to make sure that our primary care partners are aware of the disparities that exist – and which patients are at higher risk – so that they can engage with their patients to encourage screening.

For example, in our practice, we work with local Asian American community groups to help make sure that the “model minority” myth – that Asian Americans are healthier, wealthier, and better educated than the average American – does not become a barrier to screening. While Asian Americans may have lower overall rates of some types of cancer, there are some cancers that disproportionately affect certain Asian American groups. Rates of CRC in Japanese men, for instance, are 23% higher than in non-Hispanic Whites.

Additionally, we work with our primary care colleagues to help them understand that patients may have insurance considerations when choosing a test. While insurance typically covers 100% of a preventive screening test, a follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test is considered a diagnostic or therapeutic service and may not be fully covered. Medicare patients may face a coinsurance bill after their follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test. Legislation was passed last year to remove this barrier, but Medicare beneficiaries may have some out-of-pocket costs until it is completely removed in 2030.
 

Are you joining a practice that supports CRC education? Just ask!

We all want to work for an organization that aligns with our core values, and for GI physicians like us, CRC screening is a core component of our everyday work.

If you are considering joining a private practice, ask how the practice is doing with their CRC awareness programs and if it leads to increases in screenings. Inquire about the groups that are being engaged with and why. Is the practice focused on communities that have disparities in screening and treatment, and is it able to complete the entire screening process for individuals in communities that are more adversely affected by colorectal cancer?

We have found that candidates who have the most success in our practice are people who want to work at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates but are also active in their communities and have a sense of how they want to be of service in their community. It is a sign of leadership in people – the idea that they are really going to get out and network and build a practice that serves everyone in their community. These actions make a difference in getting more people screened and in decreasing the disparities that exist.

Dr. Aja McCutchen is the chair of the quality committee at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates and serves as chair of the Digestive Health Physicians Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She reports having nothing to disclose.

References

1. Siegel RL et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jan;68(1):7-30.

2. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer.org.

3. Wolf AMD et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jul;68(4):250-281.

4. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022.

5. Rex DK et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(7):1016-30.

Each year in the month of March, advocates, physicians, and health care educators come together to promote the importance of colorectal cancer screening during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As independent GI physicians, we work within our communities to promote colorectal screening year-round.

We also understand that our education efforts do not end with the people in our community who need to be screened. Independent GI practices also engage with primary care physicians who often initiate conversations about available screening tests and when people should be screened.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.¹ It is expected to kill more than 50,000 Americans this year alone.² This is why screening for colorectal cancer is so important. The American Cancer Society recommends screening for all average-risk patients aged 45-75 years.³

The good news? If caught early, the survival rate is very high. In fact, when caught early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. Unfortunately, one in three Americans who are eligible for screenings do not get screened. For certain groups, there are larger numbers of people who are not getting screened. And there are groups for whom the death rates from colorectal cancer are much higher.
 

Disparities in colorectal cancer screenings

According to the American Cancer Society, Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to receive prompt follow up after an abnormal CRC screening result and are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer.⁴ African Americans have the highest death rate when compared with all other racial groups in the United States. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the only groups for which CRC death rates are not declining.

There are many factors that drive disparities, but the main factors seem to be socioeconomic status and differences in access to early detection and treatment. While some of these issues are complex and difficult to change, increasing awareness and providing education can be easier than you might think.
 

Working with your community as a private GI practitioner

To address economic factors, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates has a program that provides resources on a sliding fee scale to people in our community who do not have insurance and are concerned about having to pay for CRC screening out of pocket. This includes the costs for anesthesia, colonoscopy, and pathology services.

We also have a Direct Access Program, which allows people to self-schedule a screening and fill out a survey that assesses their candidacy for screening colonoscopy. This allows our patients to bypass an initial prescreening office visit and associated copays. Patients are provided instructions for colonoscopy prep and show up for the colonoscopy on the day of their procedure. When the colonoscopy is completed, we give them a patient education card on CRC screening to share with friends and family members who need to be screened.

Atlanta is a very diverse city, and representation is important. But, fortunately, the size of Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates allows us to have representation within many communities. We attend a significant number of health fairs and community events, many of which are sourced internally. Our physicians and staff are members of churches and social groups that we work with to provide screening materials and conduct informational events.

Word of mouth is the best advertising, and it works the same way with health education. There are a lot of myths that we must debunk. And in many of our communities, people are worrying about paying the bills to keep the lights on – they are not thinking about getting screened. But, if they hear from a friend or family member that their screening colonoscopy was a good experience and that resources were provided to help pay for the procedure, it really does make a difference.

You do not need to join a large practice to have an impact. All over the country, there are community groups working to increase screening rates, and engaging with those groups is a good start. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all using social media and other platforms to connect. You do not need a lot of resources to set up a Zoom meeting with people in your community to discuss CRC screening.
 

Engaging with referring physicians

As a private practice practitioner, part of growing your practice is engaging with the primary care physicians in your area to ensure that they are up to date on the latest research in CRC screening and that they are discussing available screening options with their patients.

Preventing cancer should always be our first goal. Most CRCs begin as a polyp. Finding, quantifying, localizing, and removing polyps through screening colonoscopy is the most effective strategy for preventing this cancer. That is why colonoscopy remains the preferred method for colon cancer screening.

The Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends that, in sequential approaches, physicians should offer colonoscopy first.⁵ For patients who decline to have a colonoscopy, the FIT test should be offered next, followed by second-tier tests such as Cologuard and CT colonography for patients who decline both first-tier options.

Beyond the science of colorectal screening, we want to make sure that our primary care partners are aware of the disparities that exist – and which patients are at higher risk – so that they can engage with their patients to encourage screening.

For example, in our practice, we work with local Asian American community groups to help make sure that the “model minority” myth – that Asian Americans are healthier, wealthier, and better educated than the average American – does not become a barrier to screening. While Asian Americans may have lower overall rates of some types of cancer, there are some cancers that disproportionately affect certain Asian American groups. Rates of CRC in Japanese men, for instance, are 23% higher than in non-Hispanic Whites.

Additionally, we work with our primary care colleagues to help them understand that patients may have insurance considerations when choosing a test. While insurance typically covers 100% of a preventive screening test, a follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test is considered a diagnostic or therapeutic service and may not be fully covered. Medicare patients may face a coinsurance bill after their follow-up colonoscopy for a positive stool test. Legislation was passed last year to remove this barrier, but Medicare beneficiaries may have some out-of-pocket costs until it is completely removed in 2030.
 

Are you joining a practice that supports CRC education? Just ask!

We all want to work for an organization that aligns with our core values, and for GI physicians like us, CRC screening is a core component of our everyday work.

If you are considering joining a private practice, ask how the practice is doing with their CRC awareness programs and if it leads to increases in screenings. Inquire about the groups that are being engaged with and why. Is the practice focused on communities that have disparities in screening and treatment, and is it able to complete the entire screening process for individuals in communities that are more adversely affected by colorectal cancer?

We have found that candidates who have the most success in our practice are people who want to work at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates but are also active in their communities and have a sense of how they want to be of service in their community. It is a sign of leadership in people – the idea that they are really going to get out and network and build a practice that serves everyone in their community. These actions make a difference in getting more people screened and in decreasing the disparities that exist.

Dr. Aja McCutchen is the chair of the quality committee at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates and serves as chair of the Digestive Health Physicians Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She reports having nothing to disclose.

References

1. Siegel RL et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jan;68(1):7-30.

2. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Cancer.org.

3. Wolf AMD et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Jul;68(4):250-281.

4. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2020-2022.

5. Rex DK et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(7):1016-30.