USPSTF Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations Are a Victory for Patients

Washington, DC — Final United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) colorectal cancer screening recommendations assigned an “A” grade to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in those ages 50-75 years and provided a list of recognized screening exams. The Affordable Care Act would now require private insurers to fully cover (with no co-pay) all of these USPSTF-recognized CRC screening exams – including CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy). Medicare should now recognize this overall “A” grade and provide full coverage for CT colonography. “As the USPSTF agreed, the best test is one that patients will actually use. A third of those who should be screened for colorectal cancer still choose not to be tested. Patients need more fully-covered screening options if we are going to reduce colorectal cancer deaths. Private insurers and Medicare should now fully cover virtual colonoscopy and the other USPSTF-recognized exams,” said William T. Thorwarth, MD, FACR, chief executive officer of the American College of Radiology. Virtual colonoscopy is an American Cancer Society-recommended screening exam that has been shown in studies in the United States and abroad to increase screening rates where offered. Virtual colonoscopy has been proven comparably accurate to colonoscopy in most people of screening age — including those ages 65 and older. President Obama received a virtual colonoscopy in his first checkup as Commander-in-C...
Source: American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: news