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Colorectal cancer screening legislation introduced in House and Senate
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The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 1220 and S. 624) was introduced in the House and Senate this month, according to a press release.
This legislation would revise current Medicare policy, which charges seniors for colonoscopies if polypectomy is performed despite the fact that cancer screening colonoscopies are promoted as a free service under Medicare, the release said. The bill would waive cost-sharing for preventative screening colonoscopy should it become therapeutic in order to improve outcomes and save money for seniors and the Medicare program.
S. 624 was introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown, D-OH, Susan Collins, R-ME, Ben Cardin, D-MD, and Roger Wicker, R-MS, and the companion bill H.R. 1220 was introduced by Representatives Charlie Dent, R-PA, Donald Payne Jr., D-NJ, Michael Fitzpatrick, R-PA, and Joe Courtney, D-CT, according to the release.
“Preventive care like colonoscopies helps save lives and keep Americans healthy — so we must do everything possible to encourage patients to take advantage of these procedures,” Brown said in the release. “Unfortunately, under current policy, Medicare beneficiaries can be surprised by added costs following a colonoscopy. With a quick fix to current law, we can make sure seniors have truly free access to life-saving colorectal cancer screenings.”
According to a report released by the American Gastroenterological Association, this is the first year the legislation has had strong bipartisan support in the Senate.
“AGA applauds the sponsors of this legislation for their leadership in introducing the Removing Barriers to CRC Screening Act and for their tireless efforts in increasing awareness as to the importance of screening,” John I. Allen, MD, MBA, president of AGA Institute, said in the report. “We know screening saves lives, but if patients do not have full coverage of a screening colonoscopy, regardless of the outcome, it will deter some patients, particularly those high-risk patients, from getting screened. This legislation will assure Medicare patients that the screening will be covered and will provide clarity for physicians who have struggled with this confusing policy.”
The AGA will continue to push for legislative and administrative change, and will continue to “urge CMS to define the continuum of care for colorectal cancer screening to include patients with positive stool screening tests that require a subsequent colonoscopy,” according to the report.