Since 1982, cancer has been a reportable disease in Iowa and is codified in the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC, Public Health 641, Chapter 1, Section 139A). The State Health Registry of Iowa [Iowa Cancer Registry] is the public health authority designated in the Iowa Administrative Code [IAC 641 – 1.14(3a) (139A)] to collect these data from facilities subject to the reporting requirement.
What facilities/health care providers are subject to cancer reporting requirements?
If your facility is in the list below [IAC 641 – 1.14 (3a) (139A)] and you are a health care provider involved in the diagnosis, care, or treatment of cancer patients [IAC 641 – 1.14(1) (139A)], you are subject to the cancer reporting requirements in Iowa.
- Hospital
- Radiation treatment center
- Outpatient surgical facility
- Oncology clinic
- Pathology laboratory
- Physician office
Which cancer patients are facilities/providers required to report to the Iowa Cancer Registry?
If your facility is located in the state of Iowa, you are required to report on all of your patients who are diagnosed or treated for a reportable cancer, regardless of the patient’s state of residency.
“Each occurrence of a reportable cancer that is diagnosed or treated in an Iowa resident or occurs in a nonresident who is diagnosed or treated in an Iowa facility shall be reported to the State Health Registry of Iowa [Iowa Cancer Registry], administered by the Department of Epidemiology of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa.” [IAC 641 – 1.14(139A)]
What is a reportable cancer?
In Iowa, a reportable cancer is one that is included in the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (NCI/SEER). Essentially, this means that all malignant and in situ cancers which can be described as invasive and non-invasive tumors/carcinomas (including benign brain and central nervous system tumors) are reportable. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin are not reportable. [IAC 641 – 1.1(139A)]
What do I have to report about my cancer patients to meet the requirement?
We will ask for, but are not limited to, demographic, diagnostic, treatment, follow-up information, and other medical information about your cancer patients, in accordance with what we are required to provide to NCI/SEER. [IAC 641 – 1.14(2) (139A)] The casefinding and reportability requirements of NCI/SEER can be found here: https://seer.cancer.gov/tools/casefinding/ and here: https://seer.cancer.gov/tools/codingmanuals/index.html
What happens to the cancer information reported to the Iowa Cancer Registry?
The Iowa Cancer Registry is required to report cancer data bi-annually to the NCI SEER program and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Data submitted includes incidence, mortality and survival among Iowans which is used to assess the burden of cancer of the populations. Two annual submissions of de-identified data are required in February and November of each year.