Taking Aim at Cancer in Louisiana (TACL)
TACL is a statewide initiative that brings together leaders across sectors in healthcare, business, government, community, advocacy, philanthropy and other sectors to work toward the common goal of improving cancer outcomes in Louisiana.
MISSION
TACL is Louisiana’s united force to reduce cancer mortality by eliminating racial disparities and health inequities.
VISION
To support initiatives that give communities across Louisiana access to cancer screening and the ability for each cancer patient to pursue their best treatment options.
Meet Our Team
LETTER FROM DR. WILLIAMS
Thank you for taking a moment to review our 2024 Annual Report. I am proud to share that, thanks to our incredible board leadership, executive team and community partners, we have made tremendous progress in our joint mission to reduce cancer mortality and address stubborn health inequities that exist in our state. From hosting a successful Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month press conference and the achievement of various committee deliverables, to making exciting new progress with our cancer screening registry, we are really building on the momentum we’ve established within our organization.
I’m also excited to share that, through our new TACL website (takingaimatcancer.com) and an increased social media presence, we are sharing TACL far and wide among various stakeholders, community partners and the general public. For us, we don’t believe our work should be secluded in some sort of silo. Instead, we want to share our important information and progress with our entire community so that we can all work together for a healthier, cancer-free Louisiana.
On behalf of the entire TACL Board of Directors, thank you for your support of our efforts. I am excited to see what the new year has in store for our organization.
2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TACL CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Vince Sedminik
Willis Knighton Bossier Health System
TACL VICE CHAIR
Greg Sonnenfeld Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport
TACL SECRETARY/TREASURER Barkley Booker
PAST TACL CHAIR
Dr. Donna Williams
Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Program
Dr. John Lyons
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
Dr. Edward Trapido
LSU | LCMC Health Cancer Center
Dr. Victor Lin
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Emily Lawrence Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Deidre Barfield Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Karl Lirette United Healthcare - Commercial
Sheree Taillon Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care Association
Richard Born Humana
Dr. Brent Wallis Peoples Health
Dr. Gary Wiltz Teche Health
TACL CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Dr. Chancellor Donald Tulane University
OUR COLLABORATOR PARTNERS:
Aetna
American Cancer Society
AmeriHealth Caritas
Louisiana
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
– Baton Rouge
Be Well
Exact Sciences
Healthy Blue
Louisiana Breast & Cervical Health Program
LCCRT
Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Program
Louisiana Cancer Research Center
Louisiana Department of Health
Louisiana Healthcare Connections
Louisiana Medicaid
Louisiana Tumor Registry
Partners in Wellness
Prevention on the Go
United Healthcare
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
TACL, along with partners, executed the second annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Flag Ceremony and press conference at the State Capitol with participation from:
• 70+ Participants
• 10 Partners
• 6 Sponsors (5 MCOs and Ochsner)
• 8 Clinician Speakers
• 5 TACL Board Members
• Caregivers & Cancer Survivors
• State Representative Larry Bagley
• Secretary of LDH, Dr. Ralph Abraham
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
New TACL Strategic Plan created for 2025-2030.
Guest speaker for the Promising Practices Conference at Grambling State University on TACL’s statewide Cancer Screening Registry.
New Strategic Plan created for Louisiana Payer Council for 2025-2030.
Guest speaker for Healthy State Quality Action Team Members for TACL’s statewide Cancer Screening Registry.
Guest speaker for the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Annual Conference 2024 on the work of the Louisiana Payer Council.
Fundraising
• Raised about $100,000:
▶ Aetna
▶ American Cancer Society
▶ AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
▶ BCBS Louisiana
▶ FMOLHS
▶ Healthy Blue
▶ Humana
▶ Louisiana Healthcare Connections
▶ Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
▶ Ochsner Health
▶ Peoples Health
▶ Teche Health
▶ United Healthcare
▶ Willis Knighton Health System
Progress on TACL Priorities
• Cancer Screening Registry Pilot
▶ Established standardized data elements
▶ Created process for extrapolation of Medicaid colorectal cancer screening claims
▶ Completed Registry Framework
• Community Engagement Committee:
▶ Disseminated new Breast Cancer & Colorectal Cancer death rate maps & defined target areas
▶ Created & promoted statewide cancer screening calendar
▶ Provided continuing education for over 65 Community Health Workers in collaboration with the Louisiana Breast & Cervical Health Program and LCP
▶ Promoted Colorectal Cancer Brief created by Louisiana Department of Health & TACL
▶ Presented 2024 projected incidence and mortality rates by ACS
• Data Committee
▶ Presented latest breast and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates in Louisiana
▶ Shared Louisiana Tumor Registry’s colorectal cancer data by insurance type
▶ Analyzed and presented latest breast and colorectal cancer screening data from Health Systems and Payers
Progress on TACL Priorities
• Increased Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates from 2022 – 2023
▶ Average % increase for Health plans was 16.6% and for Health Systems, 10.9%
• Expanded Transportation Pilot to 2024 with LA United Way, 211 and Lyft
▶ Provided 2,188 rides for 59 patients with an average of 27 riders per person
• Launched TACL’s new website
• Created CEOs United in Louisiana to Tackle Cancer (New Initiative)
▶ Recruited 2 Rural Hospital CEOs
▶ Developed objectives, branded materials and timeline for the project
• Expand Access to Colonoscopies
▶ Actively engaged with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) to advocate for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare rates which resulted in legislation (SB190)
• This bill requires LDH to develop a plan for increased Medicaid manage care organization (MCO) and fee-for-service (FFS) for reimbursement rates to physicians at 100% Medicare rates - a phased approach beginning with 85% will be implemented in Year 1 and 100% in year 2. This is currently being reviewed by the legislature in the 2025 session.
TACL Brand Growth & Awareness
TACL employed a new strategy with Feigley Communications to increase its social media presence. New content was prepared each month that focused on four pillars: fundraising and involvement, TACL brand awareness, cancer education topics and events/partner highlights.
Goals:
▶ Establish a more robust presence on social media and raise general awareness about the work of TACL
▶ Educate the community about important cancer-related topics and screening opportunities
▶ Highlight TACL partners and encourage more in vestment/ involvement from stakeholders
Highlights:
▶ 770 new followers
▶ 444 posts
▶ 637,797 total impressions
▶ 49 custom graphics
▶ 20,248 engagements
▶ 3.2% engagement rate
▶ 3,141 link clicks
Focus Areas & Strategic Plan
CANCER FOCUS AREAS:
Cancer Screening
Cancer Screening
OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES:
• Expand access to cancer screening services that help prevent cancer, specifically cervical and colorectal cancers
• Decrease late-stage diagnosis in colorectal cancer
• Improve adherence to NCCN Cancer Care Guidelines
• Improve cancer screening rates (breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening)
• Improve cancer screening for at-risk populations for lung and liver cancers according to industry guidelines
• Advance cancer research