Cancer Prevention, Education,
Screening and Treatment Program
The Cancer Prevention, Education, Screening, and Treatment Program (CPEST) provides and administers grants to local health departments and academic centers to reduce cancer mortality and cancer disparities in Maryland.
Local Public Health Program
Purpose
The Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund (CRF) was established in 2000 by the Maryland General Assembly (SB896/HB4125) to reduce the cancer incidence and mortality in Maryland. The legislation required the establishment of a local public health component to coordinate efforts in each jurisdiction. The local public health component of the CRF is the Cancer Prevention, Education, Screening, and Treatment Program (CPEST).
The purpose of the CPEST Program is to reduce cancer mortality in Maryland and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes among whites and ethnic minorities. There are seven targeted cancers identified as priorities under the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund Program (CRFP). CRFP funds may be used to provide prevention, early detection, and/or treatment services for the targeted cancers. The seven-targeted cancers are lung and bronchus, colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate, skin (melanoma), and oral cancers.
Status
Since 2001, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has provided grant funding, based on the formula in the law, to each of the 23 local health departments and Johns Hopkins Institutions and the University of Maryland Medical Group for cancer prevention, education, screening, and treatment.
Of the 23 local health departments, 22 have chosen to focus on colorectal cancer using predominantly colonoscopy as their screening procedure. Several of the grantees have selected to also screen other targeted cancers, such as breast, cervical, oral, or skin cancers. Johns Hopkins Institutions provides prostate cancer and colorectal cancer screening services and the University of Maryland Medical Group provides breast and cervical cancer screening services. Eligibility for colorectal cancer screening is usually restricted to the following requirements:
- Ages 50-64
- Uninsured or underinsured
- Below 250% of the Federal Poverty Limit
- County, City, or Maryland Residence
Payment for other cancer screening test(s) or for treatment may be covered in some programs if an individual meets eligibility requirements. All services are subject to the availability of funds.
During fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), the funds for each local health department ranged from $129,044 to $1,129,490, depending on the incidence and mortality of the targeted cancers within each jurisdiction.
Accomplishments
The following information is based on activities that occurred since the inception of the program through October 2008:
Education and Outreach
Conducted 31,465 sessions, educating 831,127 persons in the general public, of whom 54% were minorities.
Conducted 3,136 sessions, educating 31,571 health care professionals.
Screening and Diagnosis
Colorectal |
13,171 Colonoscopies |
Prostate |
4,273 Digital Rectal Examinations |
Oral |
6,846 Oral Cancer Screenings |
Breast |
6,612 Mammograms |
Cervical |
4,710 Pap tests |
Skin Exams |
2,421 Skin Screenings |
- Awarded over 1,000 subcontracts and mini-grants to local vendors to screen and provide outreach and education.
- Formed and maintained Community Health Coalitions in 23 counties and Baltimore City to advise the local health officers regarding the best strategies to control cancer.
- Complied annual inventories of publicly funded cancer programs for each local jurisdiction.
- Developed an annual comprehensive cancer plan in each jurisdiction.
- Developed infrastructures, wrote protocols and most jurisdictions began screening for colorectal cancer in the final quarter of fiscal year 2001.
The CPEST Program has created the following initiatives to assist local jurisdictions in carrying out their mission:
- Created grant guidance documents and reviewed grant applications, budget modifications and expenditures. Awarded grants since 2001 to local health departments and academic centers.
- Established contract templates for hospital, laboratory, pharmacy and provider contracts.
- Developed standard Patient Informed Consent forms.
- Conducted training, technical assistance, and consultation on the targeted cancers through monthly teleconferences, site visits, new staff orientation, outreach staff training sessions, quarterly regional meetings and state wide meetings since 2001.
- Developed Minimal Clinical Elements for colorectal and prostate cancer in cooperation with the Medical Advisory Committee.
- Developed Minimal Clinical Elements for oral cancer in cooperation with the Office of Oral Health.
- Created education and clinical databases from which county specific updates are generated to assist counties to evaluate their programs.
Information about cancers targeted by the CRF
Maryland Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Program Information
Maryland Oral Cancer Program Information
Maryland Prostate Cancer Program Information
Maryland Skin Cancer Program Information
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT CANCER PROGRAMS
Jurisdiction |
Public Access Phone Numbers |
Allegany County |
1-800-224-8688 |
Anne Arundel County |
410-222-7979 |
Baltimore City Colorectal Cancer Screening |
1-888-ACS-NEED (1-888-227-6333) |
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions |
410-955-1348 |
Breast and Cervical Programs |
410-328-4673 |
Baltimore County |
410-887-3432 |
Calvert County |
410-286-7992 |
Caroline County |
410-479-8080 |
Carroll County |
410-876-4423 |
Cecil County |
410-996-5168 |
Charles County |
301-609-6816 |
Dorchester County |
410-228-3223 |
Frederick County |
301-600-3362 |
Garrett County |
301-334-7770 |
Harford County |
443-643-0350 |
Howard County |
410-313-4255 |
Kent County |
410-778-7950 |
Montgomery County |
240-777-1750 |
Prince George’s County |
301-883-3525 |
Queen Anne’s County |
410-758-0720 |
St. Mary’s County |
301-475-4391 |
Somerset County |
443-523-1760 |
Talbot County |
410-819-5630 |
Washington County |
240-313-3235 |
Wicomico County |
410-548-5175 |
Worcester County |
410-632-0056 |
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Education and Training Materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Center for Cancer Surveillance and Control Cancer Services Brochure