Iowa Get Screened:  Colorectal Cancer Program

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Iowa Get Screened (IGS): Colorectal Cancer Program partners with Iowa’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and local public health agencies  to increase screenings for colorectal cancer. Through a collaboration with the Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and FQHCs, the department serves low-income Iowans, ages 45-75, to:

1.  Increase the number of cancers prevented 
2. Increase the diagnosis of early stage colorectal cancer
3. Reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in the state

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended starting at age 45. Some health insurance plans may not cover screening before age 50 until January 2023 so check with your plan if you are under age 50.

Iowa is one of 35 grantees funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support these efforts through a program titled Public Health and Health Systems Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Clinical Settings.

For more information visit the CDC's website here: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/crccp/.

Colorectal cancer screening is available to eligible Iowans through IDPH's Iowa Get Screened Program at the Black Hawk County Health Department and the Polk County Health Department. A map of the screening locations and contact information is below, as well as the eligibility requirements:

IGS Screening Locations Map 

Eligibility Requirements include: Iowans 300% at or below the Federal Poverty Level, uninsured or under-insured. 

Iowa has joined the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) in an effort to promote the national initiative of 80% in Every Community. This initiative focuses on bringing down barriers to colorectal cancer screening in an effort to increase screening rates in Iowa and across the country to 80%.

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