The Value of Cancer Screening & Prevention

Cancer Prevention Progress

Learn about advances in screening, risk factor awareness, and research.

• Value of Screening and Prevention Efforts: According to a new study by the National Institutes of Health, improvements in cancer prevention and screening have averted nearly 5 million deaths from five types of cancer. While smoking cessation interventions have played a significant role in helping avert lung cancer deaths, screening rates for lung cancer are low.
  

• Advancements in Screening: Draft recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force add self testing as an option for cervical cancer screening. A recent study found that mobile clinics offering mammograms increased access to breast screening services and reached women otherwise unlikely to be screened.

• Alcohol: The US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a new advisory on the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk, and called for an update on alcoholic beverage warning labels. The advisory has generated discussion on the relationship between alcohol and cancer.

• Microplastics & Cancer Research: Researchers evaluated studies in mice and humans to understand how microplastics may be harming reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health and found potential links between microplastics, colon, and lung cancer.

Resources & Initiatives

• The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health has awarded researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill up to $10 million to create a cancer center.
• Florida Blue, Sanitas Medical Centers, and The Oncology Institute launched a new oncology care model aimed at improving patient outcomes, experience, and quality of life by streamlining access to affordable and high-quality oncology care.
  
• NIHCM’s recent Cancer Care infographic highlights recent trends and care management strategies.
  
• NIHCM’s Cancer Care webinar features experts on the rise in early-onset cancer, disparities, and Health Care Service Corporation’s strategies to reduce costs and improve health outcomes.
  

Wildfire Health Risks

The rapidly spreading California fires will have a substantial impact on mental and physical health in the region.

• Public Health Emergency: The US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for California to address the health impacts of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County.
  

• Prolonged Smoke Exposure: Wildfire smoke is toxic, and can have short and long term negative effects on a person’s health. Individuals with underlying conditions, including asthma and heart disease, are more vulnerable.

• Mental Health: Survivors of wildfires are at increased risk of long-lasting mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Firefighters and first responders are also at risk of experiencing mental health impacts.

• Access to Care: As a result of the fires, some health systems in Southern California have had to close outpatient facilities throughout the area, limiting access to care.

Resources & Initiatives

• The Association of Health Care Journalists has a resource to help journalists responsibly cover wildfires and the health impacts.
• Learn about how you can help those affected by the wildfires in California.
  
• A new toolkit from the Department of Health and Human Services offers information on health care preparedness and resiliency planning related to environmental disasters and extreme weather events.
  
• Anthem Blue Cross and the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation announced an initial $10 million in new grants to aid community resiliency and disaster response efforts in Southern California, including providing food, shelter, and medical care resources, and supporting long-term recovery efforts such as mental health services, economic assistance, and infrastructure rebuilding efforts.
  

Mental Health

Efforts to improve mental health in America are producing good results, but challenges remain as the need for care increases.

• Recent Advancements: There were significant advancements in mental health care in 2024, including the first Food and Drug Administration approved digital therapeutic for depression, and the introduction of the first new drug for schizophrenia in 30 years.

• Veterans Mental Health: Mental health diagnoses among active-duty service members rose nearly 40% between 2019 and 2023, with increases in anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses. Veterans also face a higher risk of suicide than civilians. Access to mental health care continues to be an issue, with veterans often experiencing high cancellation rates for appointments at Veterans Affairs facilities.

• Maternal Mental Health: Recent research reports that new mothers are experiencing persistent postpartum mental health challenges that are contributing to high maternal mortality rates. Mental health conditions, including suicide and overdoses, account for over 22% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US.

Resources & Initiatives

• The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation awarded roughly $1 million in grants to support statewide, community-driven mental health and health equity initiatives.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded 14 states and Washington, DC, with a $1 million, one-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program planning grants to address the ongoing national mental health and substance use disorder crises.
  
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced an Innovation in Behavioral Health Model that seeks to help state Medicaid agencies create interprofessional, coordinated care teams by connecting behavioral health and primary care providers.
  
• The NIHCM Foundation's recent webinar and infographic explored youth mental health, including the latest trends and strategies to address and expand access to mental health care.
  

Housing Stability and Health

Rates of homelessness are rising nationwide, potentially increasing adverse health outcomes for people unable to secure housing.

• A Growing Issue: An annual report by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development found more than 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024, an 18% increase from 2023. The authors cite a lack of affordable housing, an increase in immigration, and disasters, like the Maui fire, as contributors to the increase. However, with the help of targeted interventions and funding efforts, homelessness among veterans dropped to the lowest number on record.

• Social Determinants: A recent study in JAMA shows doctors are increasingly asking patients about social determinants, such as food and housing insecurity, and their health. The researchers found that in 2022, 27% of physician practices reported systematically screening patients for 5 common social risks, a significant increase from 15% in 2017.

Resources & Initiatives

• A study by Elevance Health found that housing stability improved for families enrolled in Elevance Health’s affiliated Medicaid plan in Nevada, while participating in housing programs and partnerships.
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources on the intersection of health and homelessness.
  

Norovirus, Bird Flu, and Other Infectious Diseases

An update on the spread of infectious diseases and the state of bird flu in the US.

• Norovirus: Norovirus is spreading within the US, and it has been peaking at higher than usual levels since the pandemic. In 2024, there were 16 outbreaks on cruise ships due to norovirus and other gastrointestinal diseases, the largest number of cruise ship outbreaks in 12 years. Unlike COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu, there is no vaccine for norovirus. However, pharmaceutical companies are making progress.

• The Flu, COVID & RSV: Wastewater maps show where flu, COVID, and RSV are on the rise. Cases of the seasonal flu are spiking in Idaho, surpassing the amount of cases seen last winter. In Oregon and Washington, county and state health agencies are concerned about the low levels of people vaccinated against the flu and the resulting impact on the health system.

• Bird Flu: A patient from Louisiana has died of bird flu, marking the first US death. In Southern California, medical professionals are concerned a surge in seasonal flu could lead to potential bird flu mutation that would increase its ability to spread from person to person. While the potential for mutations is worrisome, the CDC cautions that the possibility of a pandemic remains low. The Biden Administration recently committed an additional $306 million towards bird flu preparedness.

Resources & Initiatives

• A new article discusses key information about norovirus and why it spreads easily.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey recommends getting the flu shot and other immunizations. Horizon also shares the top 5 things to know about norovirus.
  
• The CDC provides a comprehensive collection of resources on bird flu, tracks human cases, and shares United States Department of Agriculture reported bird flu cases in poultry.