The Institute for Family Health Receives HRSA Funding to Expand Access to Cancer Screening and Care

New York, NY (September 26, 2024) – The Institute for Family Health was awarded a $500,000 grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)’s Accelerating Cancer Screening (AxCS) program to expand access to screening and referrals to care for colorectal and other common types of cancer in New York City. With these funds, the Institute will partner with the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center to increase access to cancer prevention and treatment services. The Institute was one of 18 health centers to receive funding through AxCS program in 2024, with awards totaling nearly $9 million.

To increase access and address barriers to cancer screenings and follow-up care, the Institute will provide outreach, care navigation and cancer prevention services tailored to higher-risk groups. A dedicated care navigation team will lead outreach efforts and leverage the resources of both Mount Sinai and Montefiore’s cancer care centers. Both the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center will support the Institute’s efforts to ensure that low-income individuals can access all of the cancer screening services they need.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 600,000 deaths annually. Appropriate screening and timely follow-up care help to detect cancer early and improve outcomes for patients. However, significant disparities in cancer screening and follow-up care persist, particularly among individuals of different income levels, insurance statuses, and racial or ethnic backgrounds.

“No matter where you live or what resources you have, everyone should be able to benefit from the tools we have to detect, diagnose and treat cancer before it’s too late,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “HRSA is proud to increase our investment in partnerships between our health centers and cancer centers to improve access to live-saving cancer prevention in communities that have been underserved for too long.”

“Community health centers play a critical role in promoting access to cancer screening services,” said Dr. Eric Gayle, the President of Health Care Services at the Institute for Family Health. “Our health center providers have strong relationships with their patients and can help them navigate the complexities of getting these screenings.”

“The Tisch Cancer Center at Mount Sinai welcomes our collaboration with the Institute for Family Health and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center to ensure the availability of colorectal cancer screening to their patient population. Through our comprehensive CHOICE: Your Colon, Your Choice direct access screening program, we will collaborate with the Institute’s navigators to ensure rapid response to the needs of the Institute’s patients,” said Professor Lina Jandorf, MA, Director of the Tisch Cancer Center Outreach and Engagement Program.

“The Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center is excited to partner with the Institute in facilitating access to care through its state-of-the-art colorectal cancer screening program and its unique BOLD Buddy Peer Navigation Program, both of which focus on addressing barriers to care from screening to diagnosis and treatment, if needed,” said Dr. Alyson Moadel-Robblee, PhD, the director of the BOLD Buddy Peer Navigation Program at the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center.

As a federally qualified health center network, the Institute for Family Health is committed to providing top-quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Institute health centers accept Medicare, Medicaid and dozens of private insurance plans, and offer a sliding-fee scale for those in need. To schedule an appointment, call 844-434-2778.

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The Institute for Family Health is a federally qualified health center network in New York State serving 100,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.