The American College of Gastroenterology has responded with concern to recent CMS estimates that only 50 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have received some sort of colorectal cancer screening.
According to the ACG, one of the barriers to screening for Medicare patients is unanticipated high out-of-pocket costs. Under the Patient Protection and Accountability Act, out-of-pocket costs for CRC screenings were eliminated for Medicare beneficiaries. However, if a polyp is removed during the screening the procedure is no longer coded as a "screening" and the Medicare beneficiary is responsible for 20 percent of the cost.
"The American College of Gastroenterology believes Congress must fix this unintentional quirk in Medicare cost-sharing because the ability to remove a polyp before it turns into cancer is the reason for including this provision in the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act in the first place — to create an incentive for screening in order to prevent cancer," said March Seabrook, MD, chair of ACG's National Affairs Committee.
Read the news release about ACG's concern over CRC screening rates (pdf).
Read other coverage about the American College of Gastroenterology:
- 12 General GI Endoscopic Quality Indicators
- Study: Use of Statins Help Reduce Colon and Rectal Cancer Risk
- Gastroenterology Societies Submit Comments to CMS on 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
According to the ACG, one of the barriers to screening for Medicare patients is unanticipated high out-of-pocket costs. Under the Patient Protection and Accountability Act, out-of-pocket costs for CRC screenings were eliminated for Medicare beneficiaries. However, if a polyp is removed during the screening the procedure is no longer coded as a "screening" and the Medicare beneficiary is responsible for 20 percent of the cost.
"The American College of Gastroenterology believes Congress must fix this unintentional quirk in Medicare cost-sharing because the ability to remove a polyp before it turns into cancer is the reason for including this provision in the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act in the first place — to create an incentive for screening in order to prevent cancer," said March Seabrook, MD, chair of ACG's National Affairs Committee.
Read the news release about ACG's concern over CRC screening rates (pdf).
Read other coverage about the American College of Gastroenterology:
- 12 General GI Endoscopic Quality Indicators
- Study: Use of Statins Help Reduce Colon and Rectal Cancer Risk
- Gastroenterology Societies Submit Comments to CMS on 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule