Kentucky launches over-the-counter colorectal screening kits

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky will develop into the primary state to permit pharmacists to distribute colorectal most cancers screening kits over-the-counter. The Kentucky Affiliation of Well being Plans awarded the Kentucky Pharmacists Schooling and Analysis Basis a $50,000 grant to broaden entry to the screenings. 

The expanded entry is just obtainable in a single Kentucky pharmacy thus far.

Individuals between the ages of 45 to 85 at common threat for colorectal most cancers can now be examined simpler and sooner in Kentucky, due to native pharmacies. Ben Mudd serves as the manager director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Affiliation (KPhA)—a gaggle on the receiving finish of the $50,000 grant.

“Take into consideration those who may not go to the physician yearly for an annual checkup, however maybe they arrive in to get some allergy medication or to see the pharmacist,” stated Mudd.

Mudd’s hope is to focus on individuals who forgo an annual examination and scale back the variety of colon most cancers deaths within the state. Proper now, Capital Pharmacy in Frankfort is the one pharmacy in Kentucky providing the screenings.

Sufferers can use their medical insurance to cowl the price of the screening package. The face-to-face time with the pharmacist is paid for with the grant from the Kentucky Affiliation of Well being Plans (KAHP). This system was accredited in Sept. 2021 by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.

“We’re not doing any testing within the pharmacy. These kits are mailed on to the affected person’s home. They might then present a stool pattern and that may return to the lab through UPS, the place then the samples are examined, the outcomes are offered again to the pharmacy and or the affected person’s major care supplier,” stated Mudd.

If the screening is constructive, sufferers are then instructed to get a colonoscopy.

The state of Kentucky has a colon most cancers fee of 48%. That’s 10% increased than the nation fee of 38% in line with the newest Nationwide Most cancers Institute information. 

“I feel what this does, it can see if it is a sustainable mannequin and if that is one thing that pharmacists can actually intervene on and have an effect on. We expect they’ll,” stated Mudd.

The screenings shall be thought-about preventative medication, and that’s one thing Mudd hopes will encourage extra pharmacies within the state to become involved with.