OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States adult population with a projected mortality of more than 50,000 people in 2013. The purpose of this study was to examine patient, physician, and access-to-care factors that may influence the utilization of timely screening for colorectal cancer among US adults aged 50 years and above. METHODS: The data source for this study was the 2009-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). A multivariate binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between the predictor variables (patient demographics, physician attributes, and access-to-care characteristics) and the outcome variable (colorectal screening) for individuals in group I (50-75 years of age) as well as in group II (>75 years of age). Data were analyzed using SAS version 9.3. RESULTS: A total of 11,370 respondents, 50 years and above, were eligible for colorectal cancer screening as stated by the guidelines. Of these, 65% (n=7393) were adherent to recommended colorectal cancer screening guidelines. For group I, the regression analysis showed that the odds of undergoing colorectal cancer screening are significantly higher with increasing age, education, and family income, living in an urban area, and availability of health insurance and self-transportation to health services locations. Similarly for group II, the regression analysis revealed that the odds of colorectal cancer screening were higher with increasing family income and availability of self-transportation. Conversely, the odds of screening were lower in individuals with good to excellent health status for groups I and II. CONCLUSIONS: Developing policies and programs to educate and promote awareness in rural areas, low-income groups, among those with better health conditions, and in those seeking primary care treatment could improve the colorectal cancer screening rate.