Iowa Combats Cancer Through RHTP
Iowa is taking the fight to cancer through its $11 million RHTP-funded Combat Cancer Health Hub Program. Five recently announced awardees will work to expand access to cancer care in rural areas through partnerships, telehealth, workforce recruitment, equipment purchases, and other investments.
The program establishes hub-and-spoke networks of cancer care across Iowa, connecting a central specialized cancer center (the hub) with smaller local clinics (the spokes). Patients can receive routine screenings and follow-up care close to home, while being referred to the hub for complex treatment.
In addition to developing cancer-specific health hubs, this initiative aims to increase access to cancer screening, upgrade equipment for cancer screening and treatment, deliver supportive care for families impacted by cancer, and support studies and analyses by academic partners. These investments are intended to improve care for lung, breast, colorectal, skin, and prostate cancers through routine screening methods.
By linking rural providers to specialized cancer expertise, the program seeks to close gaps in early detection, coordinate care more effectively, and reduce the travel burden for rural Iowans seeking cancer treatment.
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