Why this matters for Black families
Black Americans have the highest colorectal-cancer incidence and mortality of any racial group in the US — roughly 20% higher incidence and 40% higher mortality than white Americans (ACS, 2024).
The American Cancer Society's 2024 report on Black-American colorectal cancer documents 20% higher incidence and 40% higher mortality than white Americans, plus a disproportionate share of cases diagnosed under age 50. These data drove the USPSTF to lower the screening start age from 50 to 45 in 2021 — but the under-45 population still carries disproportionate risk that age-based screening alone cannot address.
Stool-based FIT tests (annual) and Cologuard (every 3 years) are both USPSTF Grade A recommended and cost less than $50 per test. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard and — when positive from a FIT — CRCCP programs pay for the diagnostic follow-up colonoscopy at no charge.
Who qualifies (federal baseline)
Federal CRCCP targets low-income uninsured and under-insured adults:
- Age: 45-75 (USPSTF 2021 update lowered the start age from 50 to 45)
- Income: typically up to 250% FPL, varies by state grantee
- Insurance status: uninsured or insured with cost-sharing that blocks screening
State variations: Delaware's Screening for Life is the most famous — open to every uninsured resident regardless of income and credited with eliminating the state's Black-white colorectal mortality gap (Grubbs et al., Am J Public Health 2015). Most other states cap income at 250% FPL and age-limit to 45-75.
The three federal eligibility gates
All 50 states & DC
Alabama
Alabama Department of Public Health Colorectal Cancer Program
1-334-206-3830
Alaska
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Arizona
Arizona Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-602-542-7317
Arkansas
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
California
California Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-916-449-5300
Colorado
Colorado Colorectal Screening Program
1-303-692-2600
Connecticut
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Delaware
Delaware Colorectal Cancer Program
1-302-744-1020
Florida
Florida Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-850-245-4444
Georgia
Georgia Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-404-657-2700
Hawaii
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Idaho
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Illinois
Illinois Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-217-785-5166
Indiana
Indiana Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-317-233-7405
Iowa
Iowa Get Screened
1-800-369-2229
Kansas
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Kentucky
Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program
1-502-564-7996
Louisiana
Louisiana Colorectal Cancer Program
1-225-342-4610
Maine
Maine Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-207-287-5380
Maryland
Maryland Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-410-767-6213
Massachusetts
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Michigan
Michigan Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program
1-888-354-2626
Minnesota
Sage Scopes
1-888-643-2584
Mississippi
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Missouri
Show Me Colon Screenings
1-573-751-6096
Montana
Montana Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-406-444-5970
Nebraska
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Nevada
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
New Hampshire
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
New Jersey
Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-609-292-8540
New Mexico
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
New York
New York Cancer Services Program (Colorectal)
1-866-442-2262
North Carolina
North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Control Program
1-919-707-5300
North Dakota
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Ohio
Ohio Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-614-644-8560
Oklahoma
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Oregon
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative
1-717-787-5900
Rhode Island
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
South Carolina
South Carolina Colon Cancer Prevention Network
1-803-898-0550
South Dakota
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Tennessee
Tennessee Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-615-741-7366
Texas
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Colorectal Initiative
1-512-305-8400
Utah
Utah Colorectal Cancer Program
1-801-538-6193
Vermont
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Virginia
Virginia Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-804-864-8170
Washington
Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (Colon)
1-888-438-2247
West Virginia
West Virginia Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-800-642-8522
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
1-608-266-1865
Wyoming
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
District of Columbia
No CDC grantee, see alternatives
Data sources
- CDC CRCCP recipients: cdc.gov/cancer/crccp/recipients
- American Cancer Society Black Colorectal Cancer Report, 2024
- USPSTF Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendation (2021)
- Grubbs et al., American Journal of Public Health (2015): elimination of Black-white colorectal mortality gap in Delaware
Data refreshed: