Gastroenterology societies are advocating for a bill that would increase coverage of colorectal cancer screening tests for Medicare beneficiaries.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Under the Affordable Care Act, colonoscopies for screening colorectal cancer are covered by Medicare; however, if the removal of tissue or other therapeutic procedures are necessary, the patient is responsible for coinsurance payments.
2. U.S. Representative Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) and U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.) have introduced the "Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act" (H.R.1220), which would waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of other procedures done during the clinical encounter.
3. The bill has the support of 238 members in the U.S. House of Representatives, which is the majority.
4. The bill's sponsors are asking House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to schedule a vote on the bill.