Montgomery Cares (MCares) supports uninsured Montgomery County residents by offering access to a network of medical providers for primary care, behavioral health services, specialty care, dental care, and medications – serving nearly 25,000 residents annually.
The Primary Care Coalition (PCC) recently concluded reporting for the first half of FY26, and we are sharing the impacts made within our community. Those include cancer screenings, improved medication access, and efforts made to strengthen our safety net through system coordination and collaborative planning with community stakeholders.
In this companion to our March updates, we continue to highlight key progress made so far in FY26.
Strengthening Colon Cancer Detection Through Improved Testing
Last fiscal year, the Cancer Prevention and Detection team expanded access to lifesaving screening by partnering with Exact Sciences to eliminate application barriers for Montgomery Cares patients and provide Cologuard colorectal cancer screening kits at no cost (versus a typically cost of $681 per kit). Cologuard has a 94% sensitivity rate compared to 74% sensitivity rate with FIT tests (our previous screening methodology), improving the accuracy of test results.
As shown in the graph below, there has been a consistent increase in the number of screenings done each month as Cologuard was incorporated into clinics as a screening option (Seven of twelve health centers are using of Cologuard.) Our FY26 rates have already outpaced FY25 rates, with more adults getting screened for colon cancer.
The Primary Care Coalition (PCC) recently concluded reporting for the first half of FY26, and we are sharing the impacts made within our community. Those include cancer screenings, improved medication access, and efforts made to strengthen our safety net through system coordination and collaborative planning with community stakeholders.
In this companion to our March updates, we continue to highlight key progress made so far in FY26.
Strengthening Colon Cancer Detection Through Improved Testing
Last fiscal year, the Cancer Prevention and Detection team expanded access to lifesaving screening by partnering with Exact Sciences to eliminate application barriers for Montgomery Cares patients and provide Cologuard colorectal cancer screening kits at no cost (versus a typically cost of $681 per kit). Cologuard has a 94% sensitivity rate compared to 74% sensitivity rate with FIT tests (our previous screening methodology), improving the accuracy of test results.
As shown in the graph below, there has been a consistent increase in the number of screenings done each month as Cologuard was incorporated into clinics as a screening option (Seven of twelve health centers are using of Cologuard.) Our FY26 rates have already outpaced FY25 rates, with more adults getting screened for colon cancer.
Community Pharmacy and Med Bank Leverage Resources for Medication Access
Community Pharmacy supports health centers by supplying essential medications, vaccines, screening tools, and supplies for distribution at partner health centers. PCC program staff worked with medical directors to update the formulary with new medications and supplies that are needed by patients. In addition, they distributed 4,800 flu vaccines to all centers.
Medbank helps low-income patients access medications for chronic conditions through collaboration with over 40 pharmaceutical patient assistance programs (PAPs). PCC program staff helped 1,102 uninsured patients access life‑sustaining medications in the second quarter of FY26, delivering $2.4 million in no‑cost prescriptions, easing financial strain, and supporting continuity of care for patients while strengthening partnerships that make this access possible.
Community Pharmacy supports health centers by supplying essential medications, vaccines, screening tools, and supplies for distribution at partner health centers. PCC program staff worked with medical directors to update the formulary with new medications and supplies that are needed by patients. In addition, they distributed 4,800 flu vaccines to all centers.
Medbank helps low-income patients access medications for chronic conditions through collaboration with over 40 pharmaceutical patient assistance programs (PAPs). PCC program staff helped 1,102 uninsured patients access life‑sustaining medications in the second quarter of FY26, delivering $2.4 million in no‑cost prescriptions, easing financial strain, and supporting continuity of care for patients while strengthening partnerships that make this access possible.
Strengthening Our Safety Net through Collaboration
Our team has been working closely with community stakeholders to assess external forces affecting service delivery. In our Access to Care strategy sessions—co-convened with DHHS—participants evaluated the strengths, vulnerabilities and opportunities for our existing network. They also explored alignment on shared goals, identified gaps between vision and outcomes, and prioritized key solution areas.
Topics of discussion included:
- Keeping people on Medicaid
- enrollment and benefits navigation into MCares
- comprehensive primary care
- entry points and transitions to primary care
- economies of scale and financial stability for the safety net
Addtionally, PCC hosted a Health Center Manager’s Meeting to share key program updates and gather feedback on several programs were provided feedback on tools we are setting in place.
In partnership with CARECEN, PCC provided two sessions for executive and senior leadership, as well as frontline team members, on guidance in responding to law enforcement officials when approached. The session offered a space for these professionals to become prepared, confident, and aligned on how to appropriately respond if law enforcement contacts them. As MCares program serves a predominantly immigrant population, this information is essential to partners' ability to support patients navigating the current immigration environment.
For the remainder of FY26 and beyond, these combined efforts reflect meaningful progress across the system and position MCares to remain responsive to changing needs while continuing to provide quality care for uninsured residents.
This article has not been reviewed or approved by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
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