The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Demonstration Project is a national project assessing the costs and benefits of cancer screening and patient navigation services for Hispanic/Latino Medicare recipients. The CRMH site is one of six institutions involved in this national study and one of two focused on Hispanic/Latino populations.

This year, CRMH is celebrating its 10-year anniversary during the third week of April in honor of National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. More than 20 years ago, Jones initiated legislative action that would bring national attention to health disparities by establishing a nationally recognized week. NMCAW brings community leaders and health care professionals throughout the country together to focus on educating minorities, discovering research initiatives, developing interventions and building collaborations with other organizations.

"A decade later, it is truly gratifying to see the pioneering work of the congressionally mandated Center for Research on Minority Health using a biopsychosocial approach to address health disparities in Houston, the state of Texas and the nation is now being recognized," Jones said. "During this 10th anniversary year we will celebrate the center's accomplishments and implement plans for the next decade."

CRMH plans to continue developing more integrated programs in patient care, increasing minority participation in clinical trials and disseminating research findings to the community. SOURCE The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center