Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL-E)

The measure assesses the percentage of members 45 –75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer using any of the following tests:   

• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) during the measurement year.  
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy during the measurement year or the 4 years before the measurement year. 
• Colonoscopy during the measurement year or the 9 years before the measurement year.  
• CT colonography during the measurement year or the 4 years before the measurement year.  
• Stool DNA (sDNA) with FIT test during the measurement year or the 2 years prior to the measurement year.  

The Colorectal Cancer Screening measure is also available in an ECDS format. Please visit ECDS webpage and NCQA Store for more information. 

Note: The ages for the Colorectal Cancer Screening measure was updated in HEDIS Measurement Year 2022 to align with the updates to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines to assess for adults ages 45-75. The data results on this page for MY 2021 and prior assesses adults ages 50-75. 

Why it Matters

Colorectal cancer represents 8% of all new cancer cases and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Screening can be effective for finding precancerous lesions (polyps) that could later become malignant, and for detecting early cancers that can be more easily and effectively treated. However, in 2016, 26% of eligible adults in the U.S. had never been screened for colorectal cancer, and in 2018, 31% were not up to date with screening.1 

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for adults 45–49 years of age (B Recommendation) and for adults 50–75 years of age (A Recommendation). Potential screening methods recommended by the USPSTF include an annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT); annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT); multitargeted stool DNA with FIT test (sDNA FIT) every 3 years; CT colonography every 5 years; flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years; flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years plus FIT every year; and colonoscopy every 10 years.¹  

Historical Results – National Averages

§ Not available due to CMS suspension of data reporting during COVID-19 pandemic.

This State of Healthcare Quality Report classifies health plans differently than NCQA’s Quality Compass. HMO corresponds to All LOBs (excluding PPO and EPO) within Quality Compass. PPO corresponds to PPO and EPO within Quality Compass.

Figures do not account for changes in the underlying measure that could break trending. Contact Information Products via my.ncqa.org for analysis that accounts for trend breaks.