Patient and provider groups are joining the American College of Radiology (ACR) in urging Congress to pass Medicare coverage of CT colonography (CTC).
Along with ACR, the Colon Cancer Alliance, the Colon Cancer Coalition, the National Medical Association, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation have called on lawmakers to pass the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act (HR 4632), introduced by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL). It is a companion bill to S 2262, which is co-sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).
The bill would provide Medicare coverage for seniors who choose to be screened with CTC, also known as virtual colonoscopy. The exam is recommended by the American Cancer Society and has been shown to increase screening rates when it's offered. Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and other major insurers cover screening virtual colonoscopy, and more than 20 states require insurers to cover these exams; however, Medicare does not cover beneficiaries for CT colonography, according to ACR.
"Colorectal cancer is almost always treatable if found early by screening, and the cost to screen and prevent the disease is exponentially less than to treat cancers not found until advanced stage," said Dr. Judy Yee, chair of ACR's Colon Cancer Committee, in a statement. "Passing HR 4632 can help save lives and reduce screening exam costs."
