Improving cancer outcomes requires data. That’s why the landscape analysis presented at the summit in 2018 — which served as the catalyst for our initiative — centered around data on cancer incidence and mortality rates, racial and geographic disparities, and interventions with the potential for greatest impact throughout our state.
And since then, we’ve continued to put data front and center in everything we do.
Data Collection & Analysis
We collaborate closely with our partners — who provide 80% of inpatient cancer care in the state and 78% of health coverage to Louisianans — to gather the most comprehensive and accurate data possible.
We ask partners to share data on screening rates, time to initiate treatment, and previous prevention programs, as well as designate support for pulling, analyzing and reporting data to our team. And in 2022, TACL collected annual screening data from 95% of our board partners for breast and colorectal cancers — our highest organizational participation rate to date!
We’re also fortunate to work alongside the Louisiana Tumor Registry, which collects and reports quality and timely population-based cancer data in Louisiana to support cancer research, control, and prevention.
Together, we’re able to compile a complete view of cancer outcomes and disparities throughout our state. Our data committee then analyzes that data to identify trends and opportunities, support clinical recommendations and interventions, and demonstrate progress toward our shared goals.
Current Priorities
TACL recently adopted molecular testing in colorectal cancer patients as a priority and collected baseline screening rates from our board partner organizations. This testing provides valuable insights that inform personalized treatment plans and help individuals understand any family risk factors.
We secured funding from the Louisiana Cancer Research Center to develop a statewide cancer screening registry. This registry for physicians will be piloted with colorectal cancer screening claims data among Medicaid recipients. Our aim is to add breast and lung cancer data for a more comprehensive statewide screening registry.
Advocacy
Legislative change takes time, but Louisianans need action. That’s why we’ve adapted our approach to advocacy to leverage our partnerships with health plans and systems and enact improvements more quickly.
Our partners talk, compare data, and work together to find fact-based solutions to problems in the system. By influencing coverage changes within these health plans, we have the opportunity to save lives through expanding access through screening and early detection and aligning best practices for cancer treatment.
Policy Wins
See how we’re working with health plans to identify and implement changes that make cancer care and screening easier to access in our state.
- Updated quality limits for immunohistochemistry (3 for 88342 and 13 for 88341) to reflect modern practices for breast cancer testing of ER and PR on the same specimen on the same day of service
- Added coverage for Lynch Syndrome/FAP testing
- Adopted colorectal cancer as a quality measure (Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, Medicaid)
- Extended coverage of colorectal cancer screening to individuals age 45-49 — a practice recommended and adopted by our partners years before official guidance evolved
- Facilitated policy change for Medicaid coverage of Cologuard (FIT DNA). Medicaid now covers all approved screening modalities for colorectal cancer.
- Made several CPT codes payable now for RAS and BRAF testing
- Clarified coverage on lung cancer screening relative to the specific CPT code covered