The American College of Radiology (ACR) is urging Aetna to update its lung cancer screening policy to reflect guidelines recently released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
In a letter dated April 1, the ACR, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer asked the insurer to adjust its policy in line with the USPSTF's changes, which include a lowered screening start age (from 55 to 50) and a smoking pack-year eligibility of 20 pack years rather than 30.
"Given the impact the updated USPSTF recommendations could have on the population's lung cancer diagnosis and death rate prevalence, we request that Aetna update its [low-dose CT] lung cancer screening coverage policy immediately to save the largest number of lives possible," the group wrote.
