Medicare reimbursement for colorectal screening has been expanded to cover average-risk patients, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).
The U.S. Congress passed legislation in December, amending a 1997 statute that had provided the initial colorectal cancer screening mandates, according to the ACG.
The Medicare guidelines under this new legislation are:
- Fecal occult blood tests: will be reimbursable annually (when ordered by the patient's attending physician) for all patients.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: will be reimbursable once every four years for average-risk patients.
- Screening colonoscopy: will be reimbursable once every ten years for average-risk patients.
- Screening colonoscopy: will continue to be reimbursable once every two years for high-risk patients.
March 6, 2001
Related Reading
MRI accurately predicts tumor-free resection margin in rectal cancer surgery, February 19, 2001
Annual stool test, sigmoidoscopy every 5 years most cost-effective screening, October 19, 2000
Colonoscopy best method for colorectal cancer screening, October 17, 2000
One-time colonoscopy is cost-effective in adults between 50 and 54 years old, July 20, 2000
Copyright © 2001 AuntMinnie.com
