Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence (CCME), under special contracts awarded by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, analyzed Medicare claims to calculate national and state rates of colorectal cancer test use and to determine the proportion of the population current with colorectal testing.

• The percent of enrollees tested each year (1998-2005) is approximately 20 percent, while the percent current in testing has risen from 39 percent in 2002 to 45 percent in 2005. We released the findings as a web-based report. This website allows users to create and export customized reports of colorectal test use in the Medicare population. Health care providers, researchers, and interested groups can use the report to assess the level of test use in their communities, as well as identify groups at risk of not being tested.
• We continue to conduct analyses with these data. Special reports, as well as technical notes, will be made available from the Reports page. We welcome your comments and suggestions for improving the website (Contact Us).

View test use statistics at a glance for selected geographical area.

Create test use tables by geographical area and characteristics.

Create national and state-level test use distribution maps.

Create trend-line graphs of test use.

Test use rates are available by type of test, stratified by demographic characteristic or summarized by geographical area, for the years 1998 through 2005. Custom reports are available in four formats: 2005 Snapshot, Tables, Maps, and Graphs. Visit the Help Section for assistance in generating and exporting reports.