Texas: Improving Data Collection for a Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

The Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition facilitated a review of the various cancer data resources for Texas, as well as the processes and systems involved in collecting data. This review resulted in the publication of Information Management Enhancements to Improve Texas Cancer Data for Comprehensive Cancer Control. This publication and a companion report (The Cost of Cancer in Texas) also produced for the Coalition were critical resources used by the Coalition to document the extent of the data problems. More importantly, the Texas Cancer Council, the Texas Medical Association, the American Cancer Society Texas Division, and other Coalition members used these reports to educate the health commissioner and state legislators about the need for changes in the rules governing cancer-reporting regulations and for improvements in the state's data management systems.

The goal of this program is to improve the collection and utilization of cancer data in Texas.

Data collected by state central cancer registries enable public health professionals to better understand and address the cancer burden. Cancer data are used to determine cancer patterns among various populations, monitor trends over time, and advance research. As a result of the Coalition's efforts, the Texas State Legislature passed a bill (effective September 1, 2001) that updates the state's cancer registry law. This legislation requires reporting of cancer cases to the state central cancer registry by physicians, dentists, and outpatient facilities, including surgical centers. It also strengthens the language that requires hospitals and other reporting facilities to reimburse the Texas Department of Health for the costs of identifying or documenting unreported cancer cases.