Patient and Provider Groups to Congress: Pass Medicare Virtual Colonoscopy Coverage

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Major colorectal cancer care advocacy groups and medical societies strongly urge Congress to pass the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act (HYPERLINK "https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1298?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR+1298%22%5D%7D&r=1" nHR 1298). The bill would provide Medicare coverage for screening CT Colonography (HYPERLINK "http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=ct_colo" nCTC) - known as virtual colonoscopy. Studies (HYPERLINK "http://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup?=vco&pag=dis&ItemID=95268" nUS and HYPERLINK "http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(11)70283-2/abstract" nabroad) show CTC use increases screening rates and HYPERLINK "http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00261-015-0538-1/fulltext.html" nlowers costs.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer in men and women - expected to kill 50,000 Americans in 2017. At least a third of those 50 and older who should be screened for CRC choose not to be tested. To provide more options to boost screening, the United States Preventive Services Task Force HYPERLINK "http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2529486" nassigned an "A" grade to a list of CRC screening exams - including CT colonography. Under the Affordable Care Act, this grade requires private insurers to cover these tests with no copay. However, Medicare refuses to cover CTC, even though it is an HYPERLINK "http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ColonandRectumCancer/MoreInformation/ColonandRectumCancerEarlyDetection/colorectal-cancer-early-detection-acs-recommendations" nAmerican Cancer Society-recommended exam.

"Medicare CT colonography coverage can jump-start screening by offering access to a less-invasive option that millions of screening age who choose not to be tested find more appealing," said Michael Sapienza, President and chief executive officer (CEO) of the HYPERLINK "https://www.ccalliance.org/" nColon Cancer Alliance.

"Colorectal cancer screening though less-invasive options like CT colonography is appealing to patients, especially the Medicare population. This test requires no sedation and people can go back to daily activities afterward. Covering this patient-centered option will help save lives," said Anne Carlson, executive director of the HYPERLINK "http://coloncancercoalition.org/" nColon Cancer Coalition.

"Most colorectal cancers HYPERLINK "https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html" nstart as polyps. Medicare-covered access to CT colonography can attract those who would otherwise not be screened, allow doctors to remove more polyps before they become cancers and help people avoid getting this deadly disease," said Carolyn R. ("Bo") Aldige, president and founder of the HYPERLINK "http://preventcancer.org/" nPrevent Cancer Foundation.

"CT Colonography is safe, effective and HYPERLINK "http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0800996" ncomparably accurate to colonoscopy in most people -including those HYPERLINK "http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/radiol.12102177?sid=ad825bdd-d7af-46be-ad9b-d0b70cb0c76c" n65 and older. Former President Obama HYPERLINK "http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/POTUS_EXAM.pdf?test=latestnews" nhad this test. Medicare should follow the USPSTF's lead and cover this exam," said Judy Yee, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology Colon Cancer Committee.

HYPERLINK "https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1298?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22HR+1298%22%5D%7D&r=1" nHR 1298 was recently introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. HYPERLINK "https://davis.house.gov/" nDanny Davis (D-IL) and HYPERLINK "https://wenstrup.house.gov/" nBrad Wenstrup (R-OH).

For more information on virtual colonoscopy, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.radiologyinfo.org/VirtualCT" nRadiologyInfo.org/VirtualCT.

Keywords for this news article include: Medicare, Oncology, Colon Cancer, Health Policy, Gastroenterology, Colorectal Research, Diagnostics and Screening, American College of Radiology.

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