The College Heights Endoscopy Center in Allentown, Pa., welcomed Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) for a visit last week.
While at the center, Rep. Dent met with staff and physician partners Sean Lacey, MD, and Robert Sinnott, MD.
Here are five things to know:
1. Rep. Dent is co-sponsoring the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer bill which is an important legislation for GI centers. The bill waives coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests to cover 100 percent of the costs under Medicare part B regardless of whether the physician removes tissue in the same clinical encounter.
2. College Heights Endoscopy Center is associated with Gastroenterology Associates and Colon-Rectal Surgery Associates in Allentown, Pa. The center specializes in endoscopic procedures as well as diagnostic testing.
3. There are nine physicians associated with the center who perform colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, peripheral nerve evaluation and upper endoscopy.
4. The surgery center is Medicare-certified and affiliated with AmSurg. AmSurg division vice president, operations Meg Morgan was also at the center during Rep. Dent's tour.
5. The physicians at College Heights Endoscopy Center perform more than 7,000 colonoscopies per year. The CDC estimates if all precancerous polyps identified and removed before becoming cancerous, new colorectal cancer cases could drop 76 percent to 90 percent.
"We had an opportunity to talk about the need for increased colorectal cancer screening, the disparities in reimbursement between HOPD and ASC and the difference in rate increases," said Ms. Morgan, of the center's visit with Rep. Dent.